PURITAN  MISSIONS  IN  THU  PACIFIC: 
DISCOURSE, 

VERED  AT  HONOLULU,  (S.I.,) 

ON  THE  ANNIVERSARY 

OF  THE 

HAWAIIAN  EVANGELICAL  ASSOCIATION, 

SABBATH  EVENING,  JUNE  17,  18C6. 

By  Rev.  SAMUEL  C.  DAM  OX. 

SECOND  AMERICAN  EDITION. 

EDITED  BY  REV.  II.  BINGHAM. 

( 


NEW  HAVEN: 

PRINTED  FOR  J.  HUNNEWEI.L, 

BY  TDTTI.E,  MOREHOUSE  & TAYLOR. 

1869. 


DELI 


PURITAN  MISSIONS  IN  THE  PACIFIC: 


A DISCOURSE, 

DELIVERED  AT  HONOLULU,  (S.  I.,) 
ON  THE  ANNIVERSARY 


OF  TUE 


HAWAIIAN  EVANGELICAL  ASSOCIATION, 


SABBATH  EVENING,  JUNE  17,  ISGG. 


15  Y IfEv.  SAMUJ:L  C.  I)  AMOY. 


SECOND  AMERICAN  EDITION. 


NEW  HAVEN: 
PRINTED  FOR  J.  ITUNNEWELL, 

I»r  TUTTLE,  MOREHOUSE  & TAYLOR. 
186'-. 


Honolulu,  June  18,  1866. 

Rev.  S.  C.  Damon  : 

Dear  Sir, — The  undersigned  respectfully  request  the  publica- 
tion, at  your  earliest  convenience,  of  your  interesting  and  very  com- 
prehensive discourse  on  “ The  History  of  Puritan  Missions  in  the 
Pacific,"  preached  in  Fort  Street  Church  last  evening. 

With  the  expressions  of  sincere  friendship,  as  ever,  yours, 

E.  COKWIN,  LORRIN  ANDREWS, 

ELISHA  II.  ALLEX,  S.  PECK, 

JAMES  MoP.RIDE,  J.  W.  AUSTIN. 


PREFACE  TO  FIRST  AMERICAN  EDITION. 


To  encourage  a healthful  sirmpatlry  with  the  Island-'World,  too  long 
neglected  and  too  often  wronged,  but  lately  compassionated,  an  Amer- 
ican edition  of  this  brief  sketch  of  “Puritan  Missions  in  the  Pacific,” 
is  offered  to  the  friends  of  Evangelization,  from  a Hawaiian  edition 
published  at  Honolulu  in  1806,  by  “ the  Hawaiian  Evangelical  Asso- 
ciation” chiefly  of  ministers  of  Christ,  foreign,  aboriginal,  and  sons  of 
missionaries,  who  are  apt  to  teach  and  are  disposed  to  take  homo  to 
their  welcoming  heart  the  gracious  command  which  Christ  gave  to 
His  favored  people,  “Preach  the  gospel  to  every  creature,”  to  all  His 
subjects  on  earth,  for  whom  He  had  provided  the  great  salvation. 

It  may  be  proper  to  apprise  the  reader  into  whose  hands  this  tract 
may  fall,  that  the  highly  esteemed  and  trustworthy  author  has  been 
many  years  the  American  Seaman's  Friend  Society’s  chaplain  at  Ho- 
nolulu, the  friend  of  the  thousands  of  mariners  from  various  nations, 
who,  year  after  j’ear,  visit  the  Sandwich  Islands.  He  is  a friend  of 
the  Aborigines  also,  and  of  their  true  helpers,  the  translators  and  pub- 
lishers of  the  Christian’s  Bible  for  the  needy  dwellers  in  the  scattere  d 
and  clustered  Isles  of  that  great  ocean,  and  has  had  favorable  oppor- 
tunities for  acquiring  and  imparting  interesting  and  useful  information 
on  this  subject  to  his  hearers  and  readers. 

This  edition  is  issued  with  the  consent  of  the  Author,  and  at  the 
e.vpense  of  James  Hunnewell,  Esq.,  another  friend  of  our  mission, 
firm  and  faithful  from  the  embarkation  of  the  Pioneers  at  Boston,  1819, 
and  during  the  whole  period  of  the  varied  struggles  of  that  mission, 
and  the  Micronesian,  and  the  Marquesan  for  which  he  educated  and 
otherwise  befriended  an  able  Hawaiian  missionary,  whoso  letter  to 
President  Lincoln,  respecting  his  rescue  of  an  American,  is  appended. 

The  historian  of  the  planting  and  progress  of  Chri.stianity  in  the 
heathen  Islands  of  the  Pacific,  without  considering  the  adverse  influ- 
ences or  counteracting  forces  from  abroad  employed  vigorou.“ly  to  fore- 
stall, check  or  roll  back  needful  reforms,  cannot  do  full  justice  to  the 
enlightening,  renovating  and  reformative  power  of  the  divine  w'ord,  as 
shown  in  taking  numerous  dark  hearted  tribes  out  of  the  leadership  of 
the  enemy  of  God  and  man  who  for  ages  had  held  them  under  various 
b.aleful  influences  as  his  miserable  captives,  and  enlisting  many  thou- 
sands among  them  heartily  in  the  service  of  the  Prince  of  Peace. 

From  the  period  of  the  signal  fall  of  the  idols  of  Tahiti  and  Hawaii 
we  had  great  reason  for  anxious  fears  that  such  debased  and  ignorant 
people,  like  oft  revolting  Israel,  after  the  many  and  mighty  wonders 


4 


God  had  shown  them,  even  after  the  building  of  the  temple  of  Jehovah, 
‘Hhe  glory  of  all  lands,”  would  relapse  into  idolatry  in  some  of  its  soul- 
destroying  forms.  Hence  the  urgency  was  greatly  enhanced  to  fortify 
the  Lord’s  cause  by  the  translation,  diffusion  and  use  of  the  Scriptures 
as  the  best  possible  safe-guard  against  heresy,  idolatry,  injustice,  in- 
temperance, and  impurity  of  life  and  manners.  True  Christian  mis- 
sionaries therefore  never  deny  their  disciples  the  free  use  of  the  Bible, 
and  then  anathematize  them  as  heretics  if  they  follow  not  the  creed  of 
their  teachers.  Thanks  be  to  God  for  His  wonderful  protection  of  His 
own  cause. 

Taking  the  inspired  criterion  as  a test  of  the  genuineness  of  tbe  piety 
of  the  Scripture-searching-converts  in  the  Pacific,  and  asking  no  favors 
on  account  of  what  a higher  civilization  may  be  supposed  to  do  for 
others, — what,  I ask,  has  the  Christian  community  under  Puritan  mis- 
sionaries of  any  evangelized  group  or  island  there,  to  fear  from  a com- 
parison with  the  fruits  of  a Christian  civilization  that  tramples  on 
moral  and  disparages  legal  restraints  of  a demoralizing  liquor  traffic ; 
demands,  enacts,  enforces  and  justifies  a fugitive  slave  law ; and  in  the 
case  of  millions  of  professed  Christian  citizens,  favors  secession  and 
rebellion  because  the  nation  would  not  extend  but  only  conseire 
slavery;  and  moreover  produces  and  sends  over  two  oceans,  to  display 
their  true  character  as  antagonistic  to  Puritan  missions,  the  Percivals, 
Ebbettses,  Charltons,  Dudoirs,  Laplaces,  Paulets,  Staleys,  and  bands  of 
Eomanizers  of  the  nineteenth  century  of  redeeming  and  regenerating 
grace,  chiefly  accepted  communicants,  "having  a name  to  live,”  as  wo 
who  saw  and  felt  their  interference  charitably  think  ?” 

To  the  oppressive  and  practical  teachers  of  unrighteousness,  the  Am. 
Dolphin,  French  Le  Artimise  and  Embuscade,  and  the  English  Carys- 
fort,  the  rulers  whose  rights  they  invaded,  were  reluctant  to  yield,  but 
to  some  were  compelled  to  yield,  but  with  a deep  sense  of  ine.vcusable 
injustice.  The  former  outrage  was  disowned  and  rebuked  by  the 
American  Government,  and  the  latter  gross  interference  with  an  inde- 
pendent state  was  never  authorized  by  the  Briti.^h  Government,  and 
was  soon  corrected  by  the  noble  Admiral  Thomas,  whose  timely  bene- 
faction in  “ restoring  the  life  of  the  land  ” is  annually  celebrated  by  the 
grateful  Hawaiian  people,  as  we  ought  to  commemorate  the  restora- 
tion to  health  and  peace  of  our  republic  by  our  patriotic  army  under 
Lincoln  and  Grant. 

Of  the  Artimise,  Count  Agenor  de  Gasparin,  a French  nobleman,  says, 
“The  violence  which  installed  the  Romish  worship  in  all  its  pomp 
in  the  midst  of  a nation  but  recently  won  over  to  a true  spiritual  wor- 
ship, at  the  same  time  opened  its  ports  to  spirituous  liquors  from 
France.” 

May  the  reader  of  these  pages  be  encouraged  to  do  what  is  possi- 
ble for  the  speedy  consummation  of  the  true  foreign  missionary  work. 

H.  BINGHAM. 


Nevr  Haven,  Oct.  1,  18C9. 


PURITAN  MISSIONS  IN  THE  PACIFIC. 

A DISCOURSE. 


Isaiah  42  : 4. — “ The  isles  shall  wait  for  His  law.” 
Matthew  28:  19. — “Go  ye  therefore,  and  teach  all  nations.” 


Wlicn  Isaiah  glanced  his  prophetic  eye  down  the  vista 
of  coming  centuries,  he  was  favored  with  a glorious  vis- 
ion of  the  conversion  of  the  Gentile  world  to  the  Messiah. 
The  vision  has  passed  away,  hut  the  reality  has  taken  its 
place.  Prophecy  is  now  receiving  its  fulfilment  and  grad- 
ually melting  away  into  the  details  of  history.  “ Proph- 
ecy,” says  Lord  Paeon,  “is  a kind  of  historiography.” 
It  requires  no  forced  and  arbitrary  principle  of  scriptural 
interpretation  to  apjily  the  language  of  Isaiah,  in  the 
text,  to  the  peculiar  situation  of  llawaiians  when  the  law 
of  God  was  first  in-ochiimed  among  them,  or  to  I’olyne- 
sians  generally  when  Protestant  ^lissions  were  first  estab- 
lished in  the  Pacific.  The  apjilication  is  natural,  grace- 
ful and  satisfactory.  While  iirophecies  are  not  to  be  re- 
garded as  our  rule  of  duty,  yet  from  their  study  we  may 
gather  strength  and  courage  to  press  forward  in  the  path- 
Avay  of  obedience,  especially  when  Ave  witness  passing 
events  in  the  Avorld’s  history  manifestly  fulfilling  what 
the  prophets  of  the  Lord  foretold  should  take  jilaee  in  the 
last  days,  when  “ the  mountain  of  the  Lord’s  house  shall 
be  established  in  the  top  of  the  mountains,  and  shall  be 
exalted  above  the  hills : and  all  nations  sh.all  flow  unto  it.” 
Was  it  not  so  with  Peter  on  the  day  of  I’entecost  ? With 
what  telling  efl’ect  he  quoted  the  prophetic  language  of 
David  and  Joel,  in  his  sermon  on  that  memorable  occa- 
sion ! 

1* 


6 


The  subject  of  Foreign  Missions,  or  Missions  to  unevnn- 
gelizcd  nations,  may  be  profitably  contCTiiplated  in  the 
liglit  of  Hebrew  prophecy.  Those  old  prophets  stood  on 
a mount  of  vision  far  more  elevated  than  that  occupied 
by  the  Avise  men  of  heathen  antiquity.  'While  jdiilosoph y 
Avas  discussed  in  the  schools  of  Aristotle  and  Plato,  at 
Athens,  visions  of  the  Messiah’s  triumphs  among  Gentile 
nations  Avere  ])assing  before  the  enrajitured  mindsof  Isaiah, 
Daniel  and  Malachi,  All  the  rays  of  light  radiating  from 
IlebreAV  jirophecy  Avere  found  to  converge  and  center  on 
the  Promised  Messiah,  as  the  central  figure  in  that  grand 
panoramic  picture  of  coming  events.  In  the  fullness  of 
time.  He  made  His  ajApcarance  and  finished  His  Avork,  but 
ere  taking  His  departure  from  this  Avorld,  He  gathered 
His  eleven  disciples,  and  thus  addressed  them:  “Go  ye 
therefore,  and  teach  all  nations,  baptizing  them  in  the 
name  of  the  Father,  and  of  the  Son,  and  of  the  Holy 
Ghost,”  That  command  seems  clothed  with  a sj)ccies  of 
military  authority,  admitting  of  no  questioning  or  reason- 
ing on  the  part  of  those  to  Avhom  it  Avas  or  is  addressed. 
Never  has  our  Savior’s  last  command  been  cancelled,  re- 
A'oked  or  altered.  It  is  as  binding  noAv  upon  the  Church, 
individually  and  collectiAmly,  as  Avhen  it  Avas  first  uttered, 
AVhen  a young  English  clergyman  a])])lied  for  advice  to 
the  Duke  of  AVellington,  respecting  his  duty  to  go  as  a 
]\Iissionary  to  India,  the  hero  of  Waterloo  replied,  “ Look 
to  your  marching  orders.”  That  ]iithy  and  laconic  an- 
swer is  the  best  of  all  comments  Avhich  I liaA'e  ever  read 
upon  our  Savior’s  last  command  to  His  disciples.  That 
command  contains  the  marchinQ  orders  of  the  Church- 
militant,  until  the  Gospel  shall  be  preached  to  every  crea- 
ture.* When  those  orders  are  obeyed,  then  Avill  the  great 
Captain  of  our  Salvation  fulfill  His  gracious  ])romise, 
“ Lo,  I am  Avith  you  ahvaA’,  even  unto  the  end  of  the 
Avoiid.” 


* Has  not  our  King  an  army  of  the  reneAved,  forgiven,  indoctrina- 
ted, disciplined,  and  bound  to  go  and  come  at  his  bidding,  and  numer- 
ous enough  to  do  up  his  main  foreign  mission-work  in  one  generation? 
— Am.  Ed. 


1 


Gathered,  as  we  are,  on  tliis  Missionary  Anniversary,  I 
liave  cliosen  as  my  theme  of  discourse, 

PURITAN  MISSIONS  IN  THE  PACIFIC. 

Tlie  time  has  not  arrived  for  writing  a full  and  com- 
plete History  of  Missionary  enterprises  in  the  I’acific.  It 
is,  however,  approaching.  For  a work  of  this  nature  the 
most  abundant  materials  are  in  process  of  collection  in 
London,  Boston,  Lyons,  Honolulu,  or  wherever  there  is  a 
Center  of  Missionary  ojierations,  extending  to  any  portion 
of  Polynesia.  The  time  is  coming  when  the  history  of 
each  separate  Mission  will  not  be  viewed  apart  and  isolated 
from  the  rest,  but  as  an  integral  part  of  a grand  and  com- 
prehensive work,  bearing  some  such  title  as  “ The  History 
of  Christianity  in  I’olynesia,”  or  “Tlie  History  of  Mis- 
sions in  the  Pacific.”  As  the  various  dialects  spoken  by 
the  Ffjeeans,  Samoans,  Tahitians,  IMarquesans  andllawai- 
ians  form  but  one  language,  so  all  Polynesians  are  mem- 
bers of  the  same  family  or  race,  and  whoever  would  un- 
dcrstaml  or  study  one  should  study  all. 

At  a glance,  it  will  readily  appear  that  a most  interesting 
field  of  inquiry  and  investigation  is  spread  ojien.  A com- 
]»lete  history  cannot  at  ])resent  be  written,  for  the  work 
of  evangelization  remains  unfinished.  Not  all  the  islands 
of  Polynesia  have  yet  been  visited  l)y  the  ^Missionary 
of  the  Cross.  There  are  numerous  dwellers  on  the  islands 
of  Micronesia,  and  upon  those  islands  with  Now  Guinea, 
or  Papua,  for  a centei’,  who  have  never  yet  seen  a IMis- 
sionary  or  heard  the  name  of  .Jesus.  From  this  widely 
e.xtended  field  of  operations — evangelized  and  unovangel- 
ized — the  most  abundant  historical  materials  are  now  being 
gathered  in  the  archives  of  the  various  Missionary  ami 
Historical  Societies.  When  such  a history  is  completed, 
it  will  embrace  the  records  of  the  labors,  efforts  and  do- 
ings of  various  Missionary  Associations,  I’rotestant  and 
Catholic.  This  history  will  prove  one  of  no  ordinary  in- 
terest, when  it  sh.ill  be  written  by  an  Kllis  or  .Jarves,  a 
Bingham  or  Anderson,  a Williams  or  Cheever,  a Turner 
or  Dibble,  a IMnrray  or  Stewart.  It  will  be  unique  in 
cliaracti'r.  'I’o  tlmse  whose  minds  are  fully  alive  to  the 


8 


sublime  work  of  man’s  Redemption  by  a crucified  Re- 
deemer, this  history  will  exceed  in  interest  the  most  ex- 
citing tales  of  romance  wliicli  wei'e  ever  written.  Most 
truly  may  those  readers  be  envied,  who  will  at  some  fu- 
ture day,  peruse  a comprehensive  history  of  Gospel  tri- 
umphs at  Tahiti,  Samoa,  and  hundreds  of  other  islands  of 
Polynesia.  Look  at  a map  of  the  Pacific.  Scarcely  a 
generation  has  passed  away,  since,  throughout  all  these 
Avidely  extended  regions  of  our  globe,  the  Prince  of  Dark- 
ness reigned  sujAreme.  Idol-temples  were  as  numerous  as 
the  villages  Avhich  lined  the  shores  or  Avere  scattered  over 
the  hills  and  mountains.  Idolatry  eA  eryArherc  abounded. 
Cruelty  and  oppression  were  common.  There  Avas  much 
in  the  beauty  of  the  natural  scenery  to  please  the  eye  and 
captivate  the  fancy.  Voyagers  delighted  to  describe  the 
paradisaical  appearance  of  the  numerous  islands  which 
sparkled  like  so  many  gems  in  the  peaceful  Avaters  of  the 
A'ast  Pacific ; but  the  moral  aspect  was  dark,  and  the  near- 
er it  Avas  A’ieAved  the  darker  it  appeared,  although  the 
Bishop  of  Oxford  describes  the  inhabitants  of  Polynesia 
as  “ children  of  nature,  children  of  the  air,  children  of 
light,  children  of  the  sun,  children  of  beauty,  taking  their 
greatest  pleasure  in  the  dance.”  Alas,  man  is  a sinner, 
llis  heart  is  depraA’ed.  The  debased  character  of  the  un- 
evangelized Polynesian  has  ncA'er  been  fully  laid  open  to 
Anew,  any  more  than  the  heart  of  the  sinner  in  civilized 
lands. 

“ Is  this  a flight  of  fancy  ? IV ould  it  were ! 

Heaven’s  Sovereign  saves  all  beings  but  Himself, 

That  hideous  sight,  a naked  human  heart." 

Yet  at  the  door  of  hearts  concealing  “ that  hideous 
sicht,”  the  Savior  lias  knocked  and  found  a Avelcome. 
]\iost  cordially  has  He  been  welcomed  by  multitudes  of 
idolatrous  Polynesians,  some  of  Avhom  Avere  once  canni- 
bals. Is  not  tiie  history  of  such  a people  full  of  interest  ? 
What  can  be  more  so  ? What  struggles,  Avhat  joys,  Avhat 
sorroAvs  the  Recording  Angel  has  noted  doAvn  in  God’s 
Book  of  Remembrance,  Avhich  Avill  be  disclosed  in  another 
Avorld  ! To  a sketch  of  Puritan  ^Missionary  operations  in 
the  Pacific  I would  now  call  youi'  attention. 


9 


After  Cook,  Vancouver  and  other  explorers  had  re- 
turned to  Europe,  and  published  the  thrilling  narratives 
of  their  voyages  in  the  far-oft'  regions  of  the  Pacific, 
their  reports  awakened  an  interest  second  only  to  that 
which  followed  that  of  Columbus  that  a new  world  had 
been  discovered.  A IMacedonian  call  was  heard,  “Who 
will  volunteer  to  go  forth  as  3Iissionaries  to  reclaim  the 
dwellers  on  these  beautiful  islands  from  heathenism  to 
Christianity?”  Years  ])assed  away,  and  there  was  no 
response  to  this  call,  altliough  some  have  reported,  but  I 
think  without  due  foundation,  that  Vancouver  had  sol- 
emnly pledged  Ids  word  to  send  forth  a missionary  to  the 
Sandwich  Islands.  Cook  took  to  England,  from  the  So- 
ciety Islands,  the  “ gentle  savage,”  Omai ; but  listen  to 
the  desi)onding  address  of  tlie  poet  Cow’per  to  that  visitor 
from  Polynesia,  who  rejiresented  the  heathen  imploring 
the  Gospel. 

“Alas  I expect  it  not.  “iTe  found  no  bait 
To  tempt  us  to  thy  country.  Doing  good,» 

Disinterested  good,  is  not  our  trade. 

Wo  travel  far,  'tis  true,  but  not  for  naught. 

And  must  be  bribed  to  compass  earth  again. 

By  other  hopes  and  richer  fruits  than  yours.” 

The  hour,  Jioicever,  was  aJiout  to  strike,  or  be  shown,  on 
Time’s  dial-plate  for  Polynesians  to  pass  into  a new  form  of 
being.  Old  things  w'ere  to  pass  away,  and  all  things  to  be- 
come netv.  To  wliom  shall  be  assigned  the  high  honor  of 
performing  the  human  portion  of  this  great  work  ? Heaven 
assigns  the  entcrj)rise  to  the  Puritans  of  Old  and  New 
England.  Who  can  doubt  that  it  was  the  Spirit  of  God 
wldch  first  atvakened  a ^Missionary  zeal  among  them  to  en- 
ter upon  this  Herculean  undertaking?  It  must  be  borne  in 
mind  that  the  IMissionary  enterprise  appeared  to  be  a far 
ditierent  work  then,  from  what  it  does  at  present.  What- 
ever other  branches  of  the  Church  universal  may  hereafter 
follow'  in  the  footsteps  of  the  Puritans,  yet  to  them  l)elongs 
the  high  honor  of  having  been  the  jjionecrs  in  this  bold 
work. 

To  English  Puritans  w’as  assigned  the  w'ork  in  the  South 
Pacific,  and  to  American  Puritans  a similar  undertaking 


10 


north  of  the  Line.  Bigotry,  prejudice  and  Sectarianism 
may  combine  to  overturn  Avhat  the  Puritan  lias  accom- 
plished, or  Christian  zeal  may  prompt  Missionaries  of 
other  denominations  to  perform  wliat  the  Puritan  had 
left  undone ; but  the  future  and  impartial  historian  will 
ever  award  to  him  a most  honorable  meed  of  praise,  for 
having  been  the  apostle  of  Christianity  among  the  inhab- 
itants of  Polynesia.  The  Puritan’s  record  is  a noble  one. 
It  cannot  be  effaced  or  blotted  out.  It  has  become  a part 
of  the  liistory  of  a world’s  redemption.  The  history  of 
modern  Missions  is  but  an  a]>pendix  to  the  “Acts  of  the 
Apostles,”  while  Puritan  Missions  in  Polynesia  form  a 
bright  and  glorious  chapter  in  that  appendix. 

Tahitian  lilission. 

On  the  10th  of  August,  1796,  or  just  seventy  years  ago, 
a vessel  sailed  down  the  River  Thames,  conveying  as  pre- 
cious a com])any  as  that  which  left  Plymouth  on  board  the 
Mayflower  for  the  shores  of  New  England  in  1620.  This 
vessel  was  called  the  and  commanded  by  that  most 
remarkable  man,  Capt.  Wilson.  He  was  the  man  whom 
Hyder  Ali,  that  monster  of  cruelty  in  India,  had  loaded 
with  irons  and  confined  in  a prison  of  India,  from  which 
he  came  forth,  after  twenty-two  months  of  imprisonment, 
emaciated,  half  starved  and  naked.  This  was  the  man 
whose  hair-breadth  escapes  and  daring  adventures  caused 
a Turk  in  in  the  train  of  Hyder  Ali  to  exclaim,  “ This  is 
God’s  man.”*  Having  experienced  such  unexampled  suf- 
ferings, God  honored  him  as  the  commander  of  the  first 
Missionary  vessel  to  the  isles  of  Polynesia.  It  was  early 
dawn  when  the  Dajf  quietly  glided  away  from  the  docks 
of  London,  and  the  Missionary  company  on  board  united 
in  singing, 

“ Jesus,  at  Thy  command, 

I launch  into  the  deep.”f 


* 'Williams’  Missionary  Enterprises, 
f Missionary  voyages,  ship  Duff.  London,  1199. 


11 


' Tlic  year  previous  to  the  sailing  of  these  pioneer  Mis- 
sionaries, the  London  Missionary  Society  was  organized, 

' and  was  now  sending  forth  a hand  of  iMissionaiies  to  the 
I far  distant  South  Sea  Isalnds.  Tliey  were  going  forth  to 
I establish  the  first  Mission  planted  under  the  auspices  of 
I that  noble  and  most  truly  Catholic  Missionary  Society, 
which  for  seventy  years  has  not  faltered  in  its  glorious 
1 career. 

Many  were  the  difficulties  and  obstacles  which  attended 
these  early  efforts  of  the  friends  of  modern  Missions. 

• Some  of  their  views  were  incorrect.  The  minds  of  the 
I Directors  were  laboring  under  that  false  and  erroneous 
idea,  that  civilization  must  precede  the  introduction  of 
1 ChristiaTiity  among  a heathen  and  savage  peo[)le.  We 
may  learn  this  fact  from  the  somewhat  unclerical  and  non- 
' Missionary  character  of  that  frst  hand  of  Missionaries  to 
: the  shores  of  Tahiti.  The  following  is  a list  of  these  Mis- 

I sionaries  : Four  ordained  3Iissionaries,  f ve  carpenters, 

one  shop-kee])cr,  one  buckle  and  harness  maker,  two  tail- 
ors, two  shoemakers,  one  gentleman’s  servant  (subse- 
quently turned  tin  worker,)  one  M hitesmith  and  gardener, 
one  surgeon,  one  brazier,  one  cooper,  one  butcher,  one 
cotton-manufacturer,  one  Indian  weaver,  one  hatter,  two 
bricklayers,  one  linen-draper,  and  one  cabinet-maker.  On- 
I ly  two  of  tlie  four  clergymen  were  accompanied  by  their 
' wives.  The  weaver,  one  of  the  carpenters,  the  butcher 
I and  the  brazier  were  also  accompanied  by  their  helpmeets. 

' Three  children  also  belonged  to  the  company.  In  all 
there  were  thirty-nine  souls.  The  youngest  member  of 
the  company  was  sixteen  months,  and  the  oldest  sixty- 
four  years. 

The  lJuff  made  a prosjierous  passage  from  England  to 
Tahiti,  touching  at  the  Western  Islands  and  Kio  Janeiro. 
In  the  contrast  of  the  habits  of  Puritan  Missionaries  of  that 
period  with  those  of  the  present,  this  fact  is  noteworthy, 
that  at  Teneriffe,  the  Missionaries  were  instructed  to  pro- 
cure “ four  pipes  of  the  best  wine,  in  hogsheads,”  and  pay 
for  the  same  by  “ a draft  on  the  Treasurer  ” of  the  Society. 
^Missionaries  of  recent  times  do  not  receive  instructions 
of  this  nature  from  the  Secretaries  of  those  Societies  which 


12 


send  them  forth.  During  the  voyage  the  attention  of 
tlie  Missionaries  was  much  occupied  in  making  arrange- 
ments for  future  operations.  It  was  decided  that  the  four 
ordained  Missionaries,  together  with  twenty  others,  in- 
cluding five  females,  and  two  children,  should  remain  at 
Tahiti,  ten  of  the  company  should  proceed  to  Tonga,  and 
two — Mr.  Harris,  the  cooper,  and  Mr.  Ci'ook,  the  gentle- 
man’s servant — should  jjroceed  and  establish  a Mission  on 
the  Marquesas  Islands. 

On  the  4th  of  March,  1797,  the  Missionaries  approached 
the  long  wished  for  and  beautiful  shores  of  Tahiti.  The 
following  day  being  the  Sabbath,  they  did  not  land,  but 
held  divine  service  on  board,  the  simple-minded  and  idol- 
atrous inhabitants  witnessing  the  scene  from  the  shore. 
The  Rev.  Mr.  Cover  preached  from  the  text,  “ God  is 
love,”  and  hymns  commencing  with  the  following  Hues 
were  sung : 

‘‘  O’er  the  gloomy  hills  of  darkness;” 

‘‘Blow  ye  the  trumpet,  blow.” 

It  may  now  be  said  the  work  of  evangelizing  the  in- 
habitants of  Polynesia  had  commenced.  The  Missionaries 
had  entered  there  upon  their  arduous,  difficult  and  untried 
work.  Not  to  have  made  mistakes  would  have  been 
more  than  should  have  been  expected  of  the  uninspired. 
The  history  of  the  Mission  to  Tahiti  has  been  so  often 
published,  and  is  so  fitmiliar,  that  I shall  not  dwell  upon  its 
details,  but  only  touch  upon  those  points  deemed  worthy 
of  notice,  in  presenting  a rapid  sketch  of  the  operations 
of  the  London  Missionary  Society  in  the  Pacific.  The  fun- 
damental principle  of  this  Society,  adojited  at  its  first  an- 
nual meeting,  in  May,  1796,  is  thus  defined:  “Its  design 
is  not  to  send  Presbyterianism,  Independency,  Episco- 
pacy, or  any  other  form  of  Church  order  or  government, 
but  the  glorious  Gospel  of  the  blessed  God  to  the  heathen.” 
Now,  although  this  Society  is  supported  by  various  Evan- 
gelical Christian  denominations  in  England,  yet  the  Di- 
rectors leave  it  to  the  Missionaries  “to  assume  for  them- 
selves such  form  of  Churcli  government  as  to  them  shall 
appear  most  agreeable  to  the  Word  of  God.”  So  far  as 


13 


I fira  able  to  ascertain  the  facts,  all  Missionaries  sent  out 
from  England  to  establish  and  perpetuate  Christianity  in 
the  South  Seas  have  been  of  the  Puritan  stamp,  except 
those  of  the  “Church  Missionary  Society,”  and  of  the 
“ Society  for  the  Propagation  of  the  Gospel.”  iMissiona- 
ries  of  tiiese  two  Societies  have  contined  their  efforts  al- 
most entirely  to  New  Zealand.  The  Wesleyan  IMission- 
aries  at  the  Tonga  and  Feejee  Islands,  as  well  as  those  in 
New  Zealand,  I doubt  not  would  wish  to  he  classed  among 
Puritans,  rather  than  among  those  “ Church  ” Mission- 
aries, whose  views  are  High  Church,  Puseyite  or  Pitual- 
istic.  Taking  this  view  of  the  subject,  Puritan  Missions 
in  the  Ihicific  are  spread  over  the  following  groups  of 
islands,  vi/:  Society,  i\Iarquesan,  Ilervey,  Friendly,  Sa- 
moan, Feejeean,  New  Hebrides,  Hawaiian  and  Microne- 
sian.  This  is  a very  large  and  ])opulous  field  for  iUission- 
ary  operations,  hut  in  working  it,  Puritans  from  Old  and 
New  England  have  sent  forth  as  devoted  hands  of  Mis- 
sionaries as  ever  labored  among  the  heathen,  and  most 
liberally  expended  funds  to  carryforward  their  enterprises. 
As  a groundwork  for  their  operations,  they  have  caused 
the  entire  Bible  to  he  translated  into  the  dialects  spoken 
atTahiti,  Tonga,  Samoa,  Uarotongaand  Hawaiian  Islands, 
and  parts  of  the  Bible  into  many  other  dialects.  The 
cardinal  idea  of  all  these  ^Missionaries  is  this,  that  iMission- 
aries,  when  sent  to  preach  the  Gospel  among  an  unevan- 
geli/.ed  and  heathen  ])Cople,  should  aim  to  convert  sinners 
to  Christ,  and  preach  among  them  the  sim])le  principles 
of  the  Gos])cl,  and  not  the  peculiar  tenets  or  o])inions  of 
any  one  C'hristian  sect.  They  hold  that  the  Bible  should 
he  translated  and  printed  in  the  various  languages  and 
dialects  spoken  by  all  nations.  They  place  great  stress 
ujmn  the  i^reaohing  of  the  Gospel. 

With  such  views  the  English  ^Missionaries  commenced 
their  labors  at  the  Society  Islands,  ,Vt  the  end  of  three 
years  a chapel  was  built,  hut  it  was  nearly  five  years  be- 
fore the  Missionaries  could  preach  familiarly  in  the  lan- 
guage of  the  people.  Sixteen  years  rolled  away  ere  a single 
convert  was  recognized.  Many  changes  had  taken  j)lace 
in  the  Mi.ssion.  Several  of  the  company  left  for  the  eol- 
2 


14 


ony  of  New  South  Wales.  The  interest  awakened  in 
England  at  the  outset  of  the  Mission,  had  died  away,  and 
the  question  was  seriously  discussed  of  abandoning  the 
enterprise.  Tlie  work  required  was  too  exacting  for  the 
weak  and  faint-hearted.  There  was,  however,  one  devoted 
friend  of  the  mission  in  England,  wlio  would  listen  to  no 
such  proposition.  He  declared  he  would  sell  his  coat 
from  his  hack  rather  than  the  Mission  should  he  g-iven  up. 
This  good  man  was  Haweis.  He  was  a Churchman  of 
enlarged  views  and  noble  conduct.  He  presented  the 
Society  with  a donation  of  £200,  or  $1,000,  and  then  pro- 
posed that  the  fiiends  of  the  enterprise  should  observe  a 
day  of  fasting  and  prayer.  This  was  the  set  time  for  the 
God  of  Missions  to  favor  His  Zion  at  Tahiti.  The  vessel 
taking  out  instructions  for  the  jMissionaries  to  continue 
their  work,  was  on  her  outward  hound  passage  Avhile  a 
homeAvard-hound  vessel  from  Tahiti  Avas  returning  to  Eng- 
land freighted  Avith  idols  Avhicli  had  been  given  up.  The 
dawn  Avas  noAV  approaching,  after  a long  night  of  toil. 
The  glad  neAvs  thrilled  the  hearts  of  the  friends  of  Mis- 
sions in  England  and  other  parts  of  the  world.  It  was 
a most  memoi*ahle  CA^ent  in  the  history  of  not  only  the 
Blission  to  the  South  Seas,  hut  of  Missions  in  general. 
While  the  Christian  Church  Avas  praying,  God  heard  and 
ansAvered  their  jjrayers.  Tliese  events  occurred  just  half 
a century  ago.  What  momentous  events  have  siuce  oc- 
curred in  the  history  of  Missions  ! 

In  the  year  1817,  tAvo  most  remarkable  men  joined  the 
Mission  at  Tahiti.  One  Avas  the  ReA",  Mr.  Williams, 
who  Avon  for  himself  the  euA'iable  title  of  the  Apostle  of 
IMissions  in  the  South  Seas,  hut  Avho  finally  was  killed, 
and  Avill  foreA^er  he  knoAvn  in  the  history  of  Missions  as 
the  “Martyr  of  Erromanga,”  A monument  has  been 
erected  o\"er  his  remains,  at  Apia,  Samoan  Island,  with 
this  inscription : “ Sacred  to  the  Memory  of  the  Rev. 
,Tohn  Williams,  the  Father  of  the  Samoan  and  other  Mis- 
sions, aged  43  years  and  5 months,  Avho  Avas  killed  by 
the  cruel  natives  of  Erromanga,  while  endeavoring  to 
plant  the  Gospel  of  Peace  on  their  shores.”  Beautifully 
does  Mrs.  Ellis,  in  her  poem,  “ The  Island  Queen,”  thus 
})ortray  the  character  of  the  martyr,  Williams, 


15 


“ A man  sublime  iu  hia  simplicity — 

I Icro  of  Missions — whoso  expansive  soul 
Nor  realms  could  satisfy,  nor  space  control; 

To  one  great  purpose  true,  his  manly  part 
Proving  the  power  of  earnestness  of  heart ; 

AVhile  burued  his  zeal  amid  all  dangers  warm, 

Brightest  when  tried,  and  strongest  in  the  storm.” 

Tltc  other  was  Rev.  William  Ellis,  -wlio  still  survives, 
and  is  one  of  the  most  remarkable  men  now  living.  Ilis 
fame  is  world-wide.  ^Missions  in  the  South  Seas  and  the 
Hawaiian  Islands  are  his  debtors,  while  his  repeated 
visits  to  the  Island  of  ^Madagascar  entitle  him  to  rank 
among  the  Missionary  benefactors  of  the  heathen  world. 
The  very  last  accounts  from  England  inform  ns  that,  in 
his  vigorous  old  age,  he  is  still  laboring  for  jMissions, 
and  that  our  Mission  is  not  forgotten.  By  the  last  mail 
a goodly-sized  pamphlet  was  received,  with  the  follow- 
ing on  its  title-page  ; “ The  American  [Mission  in  the 
Sandwich  Islands;  a Vindication  and  an  Appeal  in  rela- 
tion to  the  Proceedings  of  the  Reformed  Catholic  3ILs- 
.sion  in  llonolnln.  By  Rei\  W.  A'llis,'"  etc.  This  is  a 
sonml,  masterly  and  lrinm])hant  vindieation  and  a])peal, 
by  a veteran  in  the  Missionary  cause.  Re.specting  its 
author  I would  add:  Nobleman!  Long  may  he  sur- 

vive to  l.abor  iu  the  [Missionary  c.ause,  ere  his  name  shall 
be  enrolled  beside  that  of  Elliot,  Brainard,  Martyn,  Bu- 
chanan, Schwarz,  [Mills,  Judson,  Cary, 

“Whoso  honored  names  on  hi.story’s  page  shall  live.” 

For  they,  with  many  others,  have  devoted  their  lives  to 
the  evangelization  of  the  heathen  world. 

During  the  last  lialf-century  the  missionary  work  has 
been  prosecuted  at  the  Society  Islands  Avith  varied  suc- 
cess. The  Missionaries  and  native  Christians  have  passed 
through  a series  of  tnals  and  persecutions.  Mo.st  nobly 
have  the  native  Churches  been  sustained.  The  Tahitians 
have  held  on  to  the  principles  of  Protestant  Christianity 
with  true  Waldensean  tenacity.  The  emissaries  of  Rome 
have  found  their  match  among  the  guava  and  orange 
groves  of  Tahiti,  as  well  as  amid  the  fastnesses  of  the  A1])S. 
It  is  a matter  ot  great  astonishment  lliat  the  Tahitians 


16 


should  have  so  iiertinaciously  and  resolutely  adhered  to 
the  faith  taught  them  by  the  English  Missionaries.  It 
is  proof  positive  that  Cliristianity  has  taken  a firm  hold 
of  the  hearts  of  the  Cliiefs  and*  j)eo])le  of  Tahiti.  At 
the  last  accounts,  Protestant  ministers  and  teachers  Avere 
settling  among  tlieni,  Avho  Avere  sent  out  from  France, 
Avhile  an  a2Aj)eal  lias  been  made  to  America  for  funds  to 
sustain  the  Mission. 

The  folloAving  points  I deem  Avorthy  of  special  atten- 
tion in  estimating  the  good  aceomjilished  by  the  estab- 
lishment of  the  Mission  at  Tahiti : ].  It  being  the  jiio- 

neer  Mission  in  Polynesia,  all  subsequent  ^Missions  have 
profited  by  its  example — its  errors,  its  failures  and  its  suc- 
cesses. Not  only  have  other  ^Missions  in  Polynesia  pro- 
fited by  a study  of  its  history,  but  3Iissions  in  other 
parts  of  the  heathen  A\'orld  have  also  been  benefit- 
ted  by  revicAving  its  progress.  2.  The  history  of  this 
Mission  has  eftectually  exjdoded  the  idea  that  civilization 
should  precede  Christianity,  in  the  evangelization  of  a 
heathen  people.  Neither  the  London  Missionary  So- 
ciety, nor  any  other  Missionary  x\ssociation,  AA'ill  ever 
semi  forth  so  many  secular  men  to  establish  and  prose- 
cute the  iNIissionary  Avork.*  3.  Tahiti  has  been  found  to 

* What  our  author  says  as  to  uot  sendiug  laymen  to  tlie  foreign 
missionary  licld,  maj'  be  too  true.  I suppose  the  Lord  of  missions 
sent  out  of  Jerusalem  more  than  a thousand  laymen  to  make  known  his 
life  and  Ioa’c,  his  doctrine  and  death,  Avhile  the  Apostles  stood  their 
ground  there  in  opposition  to  the  Sanhedrim.  Paul  took  his  secular 
business  with  him.  It  is  lawful,  often  needful.  The  first  mission  to  the 
Sandwich  Islands  had  two  preachers  and  eight  laymen,  including  three 
natives  and  the  wives  of  the  Americans ; and  large  numbers  of  laymen 
and  Avomen  followed  them  in  different  rtenforcements,  most  of  whom 
were  very  useful.  Some  Avere  subsequently  ordained,  others  Avere 
teachers  or  lay  preachers,  secular  agents,  itc.,  contributing  largely  to 
the  comfort  and  distinguished  success  of  the  mission. 

Great  numbers  of  laborers  are  demanded  for  the  foreign  field.  If  bet- 
ter salaries,  better  society,  and  easier  Avork,  or  prospects  of  usefulness 
here,  keep  the  mass  of  ordained  preachers  at  home,  then  laymen  and 
women  in  great  numbers  must  go  up  to  the  foreign  work,  the  nature  of 
Avhich  is  admirably  adapted  to  promote  groAvth  in  fitness  for  it.  AYhat 
possible  objection  to  laymen  being  assistant  missionaries,  doctors, 
printers,  binders,  readers,  colporteurs  and  teachers?  That  civilization 
and  OA'angelization  should  go  hand  in  hand,  as  in  the  Tahitian  and  Ila- 
Avaiian  missions,  is  doubtless  the  true  method  for  permanent  success 
among  barbarians ; and  even  among  the  semi-civilized  n.ations  they  are 
needed  and  successful.  A vigorous  press  should  ever  be  an  available 
auxiliai-y.— Am.  Ed. 


17 


be  admirably  situated  as  a centre  or  base  of  i\Iissionary 
operations.  From  this  base  3Iissionaries  liave  gone  in 
many  directions,  as  -w  ill  appear  from  brief  sketdies  of 
31issionary  02)crations  in  other  groups. 

Tongan  Mission. 

TIic  Directors  of  the  London  3Iissionary  Society  en- 
tered upon  the  •work  of  3Iissions  in  Polynesia  u ith  en- 
larged and  noble  views.  From  the  beginning  they  de- 
signed to  extend  tlieir  operations  to  other  groups  besides 
the  Society  Islands.  Ko  sooner  had  the  Missionaries  be- 
eome  settled  on  Tahiti  than  the  shij)  /><(///■  sailed  for  the 
Friendly  or  Tonga  Islands.  Upon  those  were  landed 
ten  3Iissionaries,  who  came  out  from  England.  This 
Mission  was  not  successful.  In  a few  months  three  of 
these  3Iissionaries  were  murdered,  and  the  remainder 
were  taken  to  Sydney,  in  1800.  No  subsequent  attempts 
were  made  to  evangelize  the  Friendly  Islandei's  until 
the  establishment  of  the  Wesleyan  .Mission  in  1822. 
The  Kev.  W.  Lawry  was  the  leader  of  this  new  enter- 
ju'ise,  which  was  destined  to  be  crowned  with  success. 
Other  Missionaries  followed  in  1826,  1827,  1880,  and  so 
on  down  to  the  present  time.  The  i)eculiarities  of  the 
Wesleyan  system  of  Church  organization  has  been  in- 
troduced and  found  to  be  eminently  succcssfid.  King 
George  is  now  a local  preacher,  and  has  successfully 
ofliciated  ;is  Chief  3Iagistrate  of  that  little  kingdom, 
and  also  as  a laborer  in  promoting  the  Kingdom  of  God. 
He  has  granted  to  his  people  a written  Constitution,  and 
so  faras  reliable  information  can  be  obtaine<I,the  Friendly 
Islanders  have  become  a civilized  and  Christian  people. 
What  I deem  of  special  importance  to  observe  in  tra- 
cing the  progress  of  eivilization  and  Christianity'  among 
that  people  is  this,  that  it  matters  not  whether  3Iission- 
aries  are  Inde])cndents,  Wesleyans  or  Episcopalians  in 
their  views  of  C’hurch  government  or  ecclesiastical  ]>olitv, 
the  Lord  will  crown  their  laboi-s  with  success,  if  they  ai’c 
faithful  in  their  work  of  preaching  and  exemplifying  the 
Gosprl. 


18 


Marquesan  Mission. 

In  the  rapid  sketcli  of  Puritan  IVIissions  in  tlie  South 
Seas,  I shall  next  direct  attention  to  the  various  eftbrts 
which  have  been  made  to  establish  the  institutions  of 
the  Gospel  on  the  Marquesas  Islands.  Strange  as  the 
announcement  of  the  fact  may  appear,  the  first  rites  of 
Christianity  Avere  poi’formed  on  this  group  long  before 
the  Pilgrims  landed  on  Plymouth  Rock,  even  as  early  as 
the  25tli  of  July,  1595.  These  Islands  Avere  discover- 
ed by  Alvaro  Mendana  de  Negra,  and  named  Mar- 
quesas in  honor  of  the  Marquis  of  Canete,  then  Vice- 
roy of  Peru.  The  IMass,  or  Catholic  service,  Avas  ]>er- 
formed  on  shore,  and  just  tAvo  hundred  years  from 
that  date  the  ship  landed  tAvo  English  Mission- 

aries on  those  Islands.  Their  names  Avere  John  Har- 
ris and  William  Crook.  After  residing  uj)on  the 
islands  for  one  year,  disheartened  and  discouraged,  they 
returned  to  Tahiti.  More  than  a quarter  of  a century 
elajjsed  before  another  etfort  Avas  made  on  behalf  of  the 
Marquesans.  In  1825  Mr.  Crook,  accompanied  by  tAvo 
Tahitians,  returned  and  reneAved  his  eftbrts.  He  dis- 
covered that  a fcAV  natives  had  given  up  their  idols,  in 
consequence  of  his  former  eftbrts,  thus  shoAving  that 
good  seed  had  been  soAvn.  Again  discouraged,  they  re- 
turned to  Tahiti.  The  folloAving  year,  1826,  the  Mission 
Avas  .again  renewed,  but  only  to  be  again  abandoned  in 
the  year  1829. 

The  Avork  of  Missions  on  the  Marquesas  Islands  Avas 
reneAved  in  183.3,  by  the  Rev.  Messrs.  Armstrong,  Alex- 
ander and  Parker,  Avitli  their  Avives,  from  Honolulu  as  a 
b.ase  of  operations.  Before  a tAvelvemonth  had  elapsed, 
they  returned  from  the  field,  to  be  succeeded  by  Mission- 
aries from  Tahiti,  Avho  pi'osecuted  the  Avork  for  several 
years,  and  again  abandoned  the  enterprise.  In  1838 
tAvo  Catholic  Priests  landed  upon  the  islands,  Avhich  led 
to  their  occupation  by  tlie  French  for  ])olitical  and  n.aval 
])ui‘poses.  An  effort  Avas  made  to  make  a penal  settle- 
ment of  them.  This  scheme  Avas  soon  abandoned,  and 
the  Catholic  Mission.aries  .alone  remained,  with  a merely 
nominal  (.)ccuj>ancy  by  Frimeh  military  authorities. 


19 


Tims  matters  were  continued  until  the  IlaAvaiian  Mis- 
sionary Society  sent  out  a Mission  from  these  islands,  in 
1853.  The  history  of  this  successfid  enter|)rise  is  too 
Avell  known  for  me  to  enter  upon  the  details.  Our  So- 
ciety has  not  only  sustained  the  orifrinial  Missionaries, 
but  sent  out  reinforcements.  The  ^larquesans  have 
been  found  to  be  the  most  savage  and  untractable  ot 
all  the  various  members  of  the  great  Polynesian  family. 
One  attempt  after  another  has  been  made  to  evangelize 
them,  but  hitherto  all  efforts  have  failed,  until  our  Ila- 
Avaiian 3Iissionaries  settled  among  them.  They  have 
held  on  Avith  a tirin  grasji,  determined  not  to  give  up  until 
the  AAork  shall  be  accomjdished.  This  is  much  to  their 
honor,  and  if  no  other  good  has  been  done,  this  point  has 
been  established,  that  IlaAvaiian  ^Missionaries  are  Avorthy 
of  all  praise  for  their  persevering  zeal,  when  both  Eng- 
lish and  American  ^lissionaries  had  given  up.  A let- 
ter recently  published,  and  Avritten  by  one  of  those 
Missionaries  to  President  Lincoln,  indicates  that  a Ila- 
Avaiian Missionary,  for  mind,  scholarship  and  piety,  may 
take  rank  among  the  best  of  those  emjdoyed  to  preach  the 
Gospel  among  the  heathen.  (See  Ajipendix  A.) 

It  is  a question  of  much  interest  and  imjmrtance  Avhy 
3Iarquesans  should  have  been  so  unwilling  to  receive  the 
teachings  of  the  missionaries,  Avhile  other  branches  of 
the  Polynesian  family  have  received  them  Avith  open 
arms.  Perhaps  I may  be  mistaken,  but  I think  the  al- 
most utter  anarchy  in  regard  to  civil  and  political  goA  - 
ernment  has  been  the  jirincipal  reason.  Human  govern- 
ment is  a divine  institution,  but  among  Marquesans  there 
appears  to  have  been  A ery  little  of  Avhat  could  be  called 
“ law  and  order.”  This  leads  me  to  remark,  I think  that 
^Missionaries  and  the  friends  of  Missions  do  not  suffi- 
ciently value  the  regular  form  of  goA'ernment  which  has 
for  so  many  years  existed  upon  these  islands.  "Wherever 
the  government  is  unsettled,  or  anarchy  prevails,  it  has  in 
all  ages  been  found  a difficult  thing  to  plant  the  institutions 
of  the  Gospel.  This  is  a point  to  Avhich  my  attention  Avas 
first  called  Avhile  visiting  Oregon,  in  1849,  and  conversing 
Avith  a Missionary  of  the  Hoard  Avho  h.ad  been  laboring 


20 


among  the  Nortli  American  Indians.  lie  liad  experi- 
enced the  sad  etiects  of  an  ahsence  of  civil  government 
among  the  Indians,  and  his  remark  was  tliat  Missionaries 
at  tlie  Sandwich  Islands  were  peculiarly  favored.  The 
]\Iarquesans  are  divided  into  as  many  clans,  or  tribes,  as 
there  are  valleys  in  the  group.  Tlu'y  have,  from  time 
immemorial,  carried  on  warfare.  They  are  never  at 
peace.  The  following  lines  of  Cowper  are  a])plicahle  to 
the  Marquesans,  as  Avell  as  to  the  nations  of  Euroi)e : 

“ Mountains  interposed, 

Make  enemies  of  nations,  which  had  else. 

Like  kindred  drops,  been  mingled  into  one.” 

Samoan  Mission. 

In  our  general  survey  of  Puritan  Missions  in  the  South 
Seas,  the  Samoan  or  Navigator  islands  will  next  claim 
our  attention.  Most  intimately  associated  with  this 
group  are  the  Islands  of  the  Ilervey  group,  embracing 
the  Islands  of  liaratonga,  Aitutake  and  Mangaia.  The 
first  publication  of  tlie  Gospel  on  these  beautiful  and 
])opulous  islands  will  ahvays  be  associated  with  that  ar- 
dent, enterprising  and  adventurous  ]\Iissionaray  to  whom 
I have  already  alluded,  the  Rev.  John  Williams,  the 
Martyr  of  Erromanga.  “ For  my  part,”  Avrote  Williams 
to  the  Directors  of  the  London  Missionary  Society,  “ I 
cannot  content  myself  Avith  the  narrow  limits  of  a single 
reef;  and,  if  means  are  not  afforded,  a continent  Avould 
be  infinitely  preferable  to  me ; for  there,  if  you  cannot 
ride,  you  can  Avalk;  but  to  these  isolated  islands  a shijy 
must  car)']!  you.’’''  Because  there  Avas  no  ship  at  his  com- 
mand, and  no  money  to  purchase  one,  he  actually  built 
one  Avith  his  OAvn  hands  and  the  assistance  of  the  natives. 
It  Avas  called  “ IVie  Messenger  of  Peace." 

“ ’Tis  brave  to  see  the  gallant  ship. 

With  snowy  pinions,  fly 
Across  the  ocean,  like  a bird. 

Beneath  a pleasant  sky  ; 

Tct  braver  sight  I deem  it  is, 

And  goodlier,  when  a ship, 

AVUh  Mcrcy’.s  heralds,  doth  her  wing 
In  _v<,indcr  w alers  dip. 


21 


A burden  bearing,  richer  far 
Tlian  gold  or  cunning  gem  ; 

Tea,  wafting  tidings  of  the  star 
That  shines  from  Bethlehem. ” 

She  was  from  seventy  to  eiglity  tons  Inirden.  This 
vessel  proved  to  be  an  excellent  sailor,  and  most  ser- 
viceable in  the  Missionary  cause.  The  building  of  that 
vessel,  and  its  trips  to  the  Navigator  Islands,  on  vo}mges 
of  exj)loration,  are  most  wonderful,  and  well  entitle  the 
projector  of  these  enterprises  to  be  accounted  an  original 
genius.  One  Phiglish  writer  has  remarked  that  Defoe,  the 
writer  of  the  a<lventures  of  Robinson  Crusoe,  “never 
ascribed  to  the  hero  of  his  romance  an  achievement  so 
Avonderful.”  The  fact  is  somethin<>'  stranger  than  fiction. 
It  IS  now  something  more  than  a cpiarter  of  a century 
since  Mr.  Williams  published  an  account  of  his  Mission- 
ary voyages,  under  the  title  of  “ A Narrative  of  3Iis- 
sionary  Enterprises  in  the  South  Sea  Islands.”  The  de- 
tails of  ^Missionary  labor  contained  in  that  volume  read 
more  like  a work  of  romance  than  sober  reality.  Sub- 
sequent events  have  jiroved  that  the  originator  of  those 
enterprises  was  no  enthusiastic  adventurer.  Thousands 
of  British  and  American  Christians  perused  the  volume 
with  the  deejiest  interest.  I have  not  forgotten  the 
thrill  of  delight  which  I experienced  while  reading  that 
volume.  The  Church  at  large  was  now  convinced  that 
the  Angel  having  the  everlasting  Cospel  to  preach,  was 
fully  commissioned  to  extend  his  flight  over  all  the  isl- 
ands of  the  South  Seas,  and  those  stanzas  written  by 
an  American  poet  to  be  sung  at  tlie  embarkation  of  the 
second  band  of  ^lissionaries  sailing  for  these  i.slands 
from  New  Haven,  were  now  found  to  be  animated  with 
new  life  and  inspiration  : 

“tTake  isles  of  the  South,  your  redemption  is  near, 

No  longer  repose  in  the  borders  of  gloom  ; 

The  strength  of  His  chosen  in  love  shall  appear, 

And  light  shall  ari.se  on  the  verge  of  the  tomb. 

The  billows  that  girt  ye.  the  wild  waves  that  roar, 

The  zephyr.s  that  play  where  the  ocean-storms  cease. 

Shall  bear  the  rich  freight  to  your  desolate  shore. 

Shall  waft  tlie  glad  tidings  of  pardon  and  peace.” 


22 


Williams,  having  led  the  way,  was  soon  followed  by 
as  noble,  laborious,  jjatient  and  successful  a coiu])any  of 
JMissionaries  as  ever  left  the  shores  of  Christian  England 
and  landed  u])on  the  shores  of  heathendom.  The  names 
of  Buzacott,  Pitman,  Boyle,  Mills,  Turner,  Geddie,  and 
many  others,  are  associated  with  that  of  AVilliams  in 
jn-osecuting  the  Avork  of  ]\Iissions  in  theHervey,  Samoan, 
New  Hebrides,  New  Caledonia  and  other  islands,  stretch- 
ing au  ay  to  the  westward.  (See  Appendix  B.) 

New  Zealand  and  Feejeean  Missions.* 

Although  I do  not  feel  justified  in  classing  the  New 
Zealand  Missions  among  Puritan  Missions  in  the  South 
Seas,  yet  I can  appreciate  what  has  been  done  by  those 
differing  from  the  Puritans  in  their  ecclesiastical  organi- 
zation. The  Church  ^Missionary  Society  commenced  ope- 
rations in  New  Zealand  in  1814,  and  has  there  accom- 
plished a noble  Avork.  The  devoted  Missionaries  of  the 
Society  have  labored  Avith  alternate  successes  and  defeats. 
The  Wesleyan  Missionaries  came  to  their  aid  in  1819, 
and  also  ^Missionaries  under  the  aus))ices  of  the  ancient 
“Society  for  Propagating  the  Gospel  in  Foreign  Parts,” 
have  entered  that  field.  The  histoiy  (>f  those  Missions 
abounds  with  incidents  of  thrilling  interest.  The  steady 
and  persevei’ing  efforts  and  jjatronage  of  the  Bev.  Samuel 
Marsden,  an  Episcojjalian,  and  Chaplain  at  Sydney,  j>re- 
sents  one  of  the  finest  pictures  of  ^Missionary  zeal  any- 
Avhei’e  to  be  found  upon  record.  lie  stood  by  that  Mis- 
sion through  evil  as  Avell  as  good  report.  Cannibalism 
and  idolatrj'^  have  been  the  main  obstacles  in  the  Avay  of 
the  preaching  of  the  Gosj)el.  The  late  Sydney  Smith 
])resented  the  cannibal  feature  in  a most  striking  light. 
When  Bishop  Sehvyn  was  about  to  leave  England  for 
his  distant  diocese,  Sydney  Smith  thus  addressed  him  ; 
“ I hope,  my  Lord,  you  Avill  keep  a bountiful  supply  of 
cold  cooked  infant  on  your  sideboard,  for  all  A'isitors, 
and,  if  any  of  the  nati\'es  should  fancy  to  eat  you,  I can 
oidy  heartily  hope  you  Avill  disagree  with  them.”  The 

* This  portion  of  the  discourse,  relating  to  New  Zealand,  and  some 
other  paragraphs,  were  omitted  in  the  delivery,  for  want  of  time. 


23 


good  Bishop  yet  survives,  but,  if  reports  are  to  be  cred- 
ited of  the  iNIaories  returning  to  their  cannibal  practices, 
it  would  be  impossible  to  predict  how  long  he  may  be 
spared.  The  humorous  sarcasm  of  the  witty  Divine,  in- 
dicated a condition  of  heathenism  in  New  Zealand  and 
the  Feejee  Islands,  Mhich  tl)ose  devoted  Missionaries 
have  been  called  to  encounter  in  all  its  hideous  and  loath- 
some features.* 

From  New  Zealand,  turn  your  eyes  for  a moment  to 
the  achievements  of  tlie  Wesleyan,  or  Puritan  Missions, 
in  the  Feejee  Islands.  Contemplate  Gospel  triumphs  in 
that  region  of  Polynesia.  No  ^lissionary  hereafter  need 
be  discouraged  at  the  most  ap])alling  obstacles  and  diffi- 
culties that  may  be  presented  in  any  ])art  of  the  heathen 
world.  .lust  thirty  years  ago,  or  in  1835,  the  Bev. 
Messrs.  Cross  and  Cargile  landed  among  the  unblushing 
cannibals  of  the  h\‘ojee  Islands.  Human  tlesh  Avas  no 
inconsiderable  portion  of  the  food  of  the  debased  Fee- 
jeeans.  Foreigners  of  the  very  lowest  class  had  intro- 
duced the  vices  of  civilization ; but  even  there  the  Sa- 
A'ior  has  found  followers.  Schools  have  been  established 
and  the  Bible  lias  been  translated.  The  Wesleyans  have 
liappily  and  successfully  introduced  the  peculiar  practi- 
ces and  forms  of  .lohn  Wesley’s  system,  and  these  have 
been  found  admirably  suited  to  the  elevation  and  ameli- 
oration of  the  debased  Feejeeans.  All  honor  to  those 
devoted  laborers.  (See  Appendix  C.) 

Hawaiian  Mission. 

In  my  remarks  upon  Missionary  ojjerationsin  Polynesia, 
I have  dwelt  exclusively  upon  the  labors  of  the  Knglish 
in  what  may  strictly  be  denominateil  the  South  Seas.  I 
shall  now  invite  your  attention  somewhat  briefly  to  the 
labors  of  the  American  Puritan  Missionaries  in  the  North 
I’acitic.  The  Hawaiian  Islands  Avill,  of  course,  first 
I claim  our  attention.  In  passing,  I cannot  refrain  from 


* “ It  was  a mistake,  as  the  result  has  demonstrated,  to  report  such 
a promiscuous  membership  as  purely  Christian.” — Cor.  Mailt  Quarter- 
ly, Oct.  1868,  p.  67.  How  sadly  ruinous  to  carnal-minded  souls  to 
fellowship  their  enmity  to  Christ ! — Am.  Ed. 


24 


alludino;  to  tliat  harmony  ■which  has  always  existed  be- 
tween the  Missionaries  of  the  London  Missionary  Society 
and  those  of  the  American  lioard.  At  a very  early 
stage  of  oj)erations,  there  was  a 2>erfect  understanding 
that  Islands  south  of  the  Line  should  belong  to  the 
English  Missionaries,  while  American  Missionaries  should 
go  to  the  North  Pacific.  As  events  have  been  devel- 
ojjing,  and  the  streams  of  emigration  have  flowed  to  the 
Australian  colonies  via  the  Cajie  of  Good  Hope,  and  to 
the  Pacific  coast  via  the  Rocky  Mountains  and  the  Isth- 
mus of  Panama,  it  has  become  clearly  apjiarent  that  an 
overrulinG:  Providence  guides  the  streams  of  emigration 
and  the  progress  of  foreign  Missions.  The  leading  facts 
relating  to  Missions  at  tliese  islands  are  so  familiar  to 
your  minds,  and  have  been  so  often  published,  that  I 
shall  not  be  ex})ected  to  dwell  ui^on  the  details  of  Mis- 
sionary operations.  The  work  has  not  bt*en  done  in  a cor- 
ner, but  o})enly,  and  in  view  of  friends  and  enemies. 
The  system  and  jnincijjles  adopted  by  the  Puritan  Mis- 
sionaries have  been  severely  criticised  and  examined.  In 
reviewing  the  establishment  of  the  Mission,  it  would  be 
quite  impossible  to  keep  out  of  view  certain  marked  in- 
terpositions of  Divine  Providence.  The  visit  of  Oboo- 
kiah  and  his  companions  to  America,  and  their  education 
in  the  Mission  School  at  Cornwall,  Conn.,  form  a most 
beautiful  introduction  to  a history  of  the  American  ]\Iis- 
sion  to  the  Islands.  The  abolition  of  idolatry  and  the 
tabu  system  are  also  incidents  of  marked  significance. 
Before  the  news  of  this  unheard  of  and  unex2)ected  event 
reached  the  LTnited  States,  the  first  Missionary  company 
had  embarked  from  Boston.  The  way  had  been  thereby 
pre2>ared  for  the  introduction  of  the  Christian  religion 
into  these  islands.  “The  isles  shall  wait  for  His  law.” 
Literally  were  the  inhabitants  of  these  isles  waiting  for 
God’s  Law.  Not  to  recognize  in  this  wonderful  work  of 
preparation  an  interjjosition  of  an  unseen  but  Diviue 
hand,  Avould  savor  of  a denial  of  an  overruling  and  Di- 
vine Providence.  In  conteni])lating  this  CA^ent  in  Ha- 
waiian annals,  hoAV  forcibly  the  folloAving  truthful,  elo- 
quent and  i)hiloso2)hical  remarks  of  Bancroft,  the  hlsto- 


25 


rian,  forming  the  exordium  of  liis  late  eulogy  on  the  life  of 
President  Lincoln,  will  be  found  to  apply  ; “ Sometimes, 
like  a messenger  through  the  tliick  darkness  of  night. 
Omnipotence  steps  along  mysterious  ways  ; but  wlien 
the  hour  strikes  for  a j)eople  or  mankind  to  pass  into  a 
new  form  of  being,  unseen  hands  draw  the  bolts  from 
the  gates  of  futurity;  an  all  subduing  influence  prepares 
the  minds  of  men  for  the  coming  revolution  ; those  who 
plan  resistance  find  themselves  in  conflict  with  the  will 
of  Providence  rather  than  with  human  desires  ; and  all 
hearts  and  all  understandings,  most  of  all  the  opinions 
and  influence  of  the  unwilling,  are  wonderfully  attracted, 
and  compelled  to  bear  forward  the  change,  Avhich  be- 
comes more  and  more  an  obedience  to  the  law  of  uni- 
versal nature  than  submission  to  the  arbitraments  of 
man.” 

The  hour  had  struck  for  the  Hawaiian  peojde  to  pass 
into  a new  form  of  being.  Through  the  thick  darkness 
of  heathenish  night.  Divine  Providence  had  beei\  leading 
this  people  to  abolish  their  old  system  of  worship.  Lin- 
seen  hands  drew  back  the  bolts  from  the  gates,  and 
thrcAV  wide  open  the  doors  for  the  pioneers  of  the  Amer- 
ican Puritan  Mission  to  enter  upon  their  work  of  evan- 
gelization. This  event  has  thus  been  j)ortrayed  in  po- 
etic strains  by  the  Hev.  Robert  Grant,  a clergyman  of  Die 
Church  of  England,  in  his  jroem,  “ Kapiolani.” 

“ God  oped  a wide  and  an  efifectiial  door, 

For  ere  the  messengers  of  peace  unfurled 
Love’s  banner,  waving  o’er  a rebel  world, 

Moved  by  a mighty  impulse  from  on  high, 

Bursting  each  social,  each  domestic  tie. 

The  Island  King  the  ancient  creed  disowned. 

Threw  off  the  burden  beneath  which  they  groaned. 

At  one  bold  stroke ; and,  with  a statesman’s  view, 

He  broke  the  fetters  of  the  strict  tabu. 

Enforced  byjstera  authority’s  high  hand : 

Thus  idol-worship  ceased  throughout  the  land.” 

Enemies  arose  and  opposers  resisted  the  onward  march 
1 of  the  new  order  of  events,  but  they  have  ])assed  away. 

A righteous  judgement  appears,  in  many  instances,  to 
I have  overtaken  the  enemies  of  the  Gospel  in  this  land, 

.3 


26 


not  unlike  the  fearful  destruction  Avhich  at  a subsequent 
date,  awaited  Boki  and  his  band,  to  the  number  of  five 
luuulred,  who  embarked  at  Honolulu,  in  December,  1829, 
for  an  expedition  to  the  Soutli  Seas.  Only  twenty  of 
the  number  ever  returned.  The  leader  had  placed  him- 
self in  opposition  to  the  advancement  of  the  cause  of 
truth.  His  career  and  that  of  his  followers  was  marked 
by  “ prodigality,  intemperance  and  opposition,”  imperil- 
ing the  very  government  as  well  as  the  Church.  “ At 
length,”  remarks  Dibble,  the  historian,  “ the  God  of  na- 
tions, who  had  so  signally  interposed  in  other  emergen- 
cies, displaj^d  again  His  timely  aid.”  In  more  than  one 
crisis  have  the  Missionaries  and  friends  of  truth  in  this 
nation  had  occasion  to  adopt  the  language  of  Ezra : 
“ The  hand  of  the  Lord  was  upon  us,  and  he  delivered  us 
out  of  the  hand  of  the  enemy,  and  of  such  as  lay  in  wait 
by  the  way.”  As  I once  took  occasion  to  remark,  on  a 
national  fast-day,  more  than  twenty  years  ago,  so  I will 
now  repeat  the  remark : “ The  more  1 become  acquainted 
with  the  history  of  the  atfairs  of  these  islands,  the  sen- 
timent becomes  more  strongly  impressed  upon  my  mind 
that  the  Sandwich  Islands  is  no  field  for  wicked  men  and 
the  opposers  of  truth  and  righteousness  to  think  of  jirac- 
ticing  their  schemes  before  high  Heaven,  unless  they  are 
willing  to  incur  the  awful  risk  of  being  pursued,  even  in 
this  life,  with  the  retributive  justice  of  God.” 

There  have  been  many  bright  as  well  as  dark  providen- 
ces in  the  histoiy  of  tliis  people  during  the  last  half 
century.  The  friends  of  Foreign  Missions  in  the  United 
States  have  been  permitted  to  learn  the  good  results  of 
this  investment  of  a million  of  dollars  to  redeem  Ha- 
waiians  from  heathenism.  Missionary  labor  has  pro- 
duced a goodly  harvest.  How  striking  the  contrast  be- 
tween this  ami  some  other  fields  of  ilissionary  eftbrts  ! 
The  great  and  successful  African  Missionary  and  ExjjIo- 
rcr.  Dr.  Livingstone,  recently  has  put  forth  the  statement 
that  forty  foreign  Missionaries  going  to  Africa,  died  of 
disease  and  the  climate  before  a single  convert  to  Chris- 
tianity came  forward  to  cheer  the  hearts  of  God’s  Mis- 
sionary servants.  Not  thus  has  the  great  Head  of  the 
Church  compelled  the  American  Missionary  to  toil  on 


27 


in  faith.  Those  who  have  sown  the  seed  have  been  per- 
mitted to  gather  in  the  harvest.  The  sower  and  the 
reaper  are  combined  in  one.  I rejoice  in  being  permit- 
ted to  see  present  on  tliis  occasion  a representation  of 
the  first  Missionary  band  landing  on  Hawaiian  shores, 
in  1820.  Long  may  our  vener.able  associates  be  sp.ared 
to  make  their  annual  appearance  at  our  Missionaiy  and 
festive  gatherings.  Their  presence  is  ever  welcome  and 
cheering.  They  form  golden  links  in  that  historic  chain 
connecting  the  present  with  the  past.* 

AYhatever  may  await  Hawaiians  in  the  future,  the  past 
is  secure.  A record  has  been  made.  AYere  Missionaries 
on  these  islands  to  erect  a monument  commemorative  of 
the  past,  no  more  appropriate  inscri])tioii  could  be  found 
to  chisel  upon  that  monument  than  the  one  furnished  by 
the  prophet  Samuel  three  thousand  years  ago : “ Hitherto 
hath  the  Lord  helped  us.” 

In  estimating  the  good  which  has  been  accomplished 
at  these  islands,  no  candid  and  impartial  observer  can 
overlook  or  undervalue  the  strong  conservative  influence 
of  American  Alissionaries  in  upholding  and  ]>erpetuat- 
ing  the  independent  sovereignty  of  the  Hawaiian  King- 
dom. Individually  and  collectively,  their  influence  has 
been  uf5on  the  side  of  good  order  and  the  Kamehamha- 
dynasty.  Glance  your  eye  over  a map  of  Polynesia,  and 
where,  I would  ask,  has  the  kingly  authority  been  more 
happily  sustained?  AA^’lien  troubles  have  arisen,  and 
ships  of  war  threatened,  the  American  Missionary’s  in- 
fluence and  pen  have  been  found  in  defense  of  the  na- 
tive Government.  Look  at  Tahiti;  look  at  Xew  Cale- 
donia; look  at  Xew  Zealand.  I do  not  undervalue  the 
skillful  labors  of  the  di2)lomatist,  or  the  incessant  toils  of 
the  civil  magistrate,  nr  the  invaluable  efforts  of  our 
Judges;  neither  will  I knowingly  undervalue  or  slightly 
pass  over  the  prayers  and  toils  of  those  who  have  spent 
their  lives  to  perpetuate  the  Hawaiian  race  and  king- 
dom. Rejmblican  as  the  Alissionaries  may  have  been 


* Referring  to  the  Rev.  Asa  Tliurston  and  vifo,  and  Mrs.  Whitney. 
[The  first,  a true  sower  and  reaper,  strong,  gentle,  hopeful,  patient, 
taking  his  sheaves,  with  joy,  has  entered  his  rest. — Am.  Ed.] 


28 


in  their  origin  and  sympathies,  yet  they  have  proved  the 
very  staimcliest  supporters  of  a monarcliical  form  of 
government  in  these  islands.  Yet  tlie  Bishop  of  Oxford 
describes  these  men  as  “ rather  more  severe,  sour  and 
vinegar-like  ” than  even  their  fathers,  “ the  stern  old 
Puritans  of  New  England.” 

Micronesian  Mission. 

In  order  to  complete  the  sketch  of  Missionary  opera- 
tions in  Polynesia,  I will  briefly  call  your  attention  to  the 
efforts  which  have  been  made  to  evangelize  the  islands 
of  Micronesia.  A Mission  thither  was  undertaken  in 
1852,  and  has  been  prosecuted  to  the  present  time. 
Many  hindrances  and  obstacles  have  retarded  the  work. 
The  islands  are  remote  from  each  other.  The  inhab- 
itants speak  different  languages  or  dialects.  The  influ- 
ence of  foreigners  has  been  most  pernicious.  Sweeping 
epidemics  have  more  than  decimated  the  people.  It  has 
been  difficult  to  hold  regular  communication  with  the 
Missionaries  and  forward  supplies.  Notwithstanding  all 
these  hindrances,  and  more  which  might  be  enumerated, 
American  and  Hawaiian  laborers  diligently  prosecuted 
the  work.  They  have  reduced  four  languages  to  \vritteu 
forms,  established  schools,  organized  Clmrches,  and  per- 
formed a vast  amount  of  Missionary  work.  Having  been 
permitted  to  visit  those  islands  and  witness  what  a few 
laborers  have  performed,  I can  bear  my  humble  testimony 
to  the  good  which  has  been  accomplished.  The  Puritan 
Missionary  has  been  a great  worker.  He  has  gone  down 
among  the  people,  and  labored  to  bring  them  up  to  a 
higher  standard  of  civilization,  and  introduce  among 
them  the  principles  of  the  Gospel.  But  few  Missions 
in  any  part  of  the  world  can  boast  of  more  cheeiing  re- 
sults. The  mariner  in  those  seas  owes  an  everlasting 
debt  of  gratitude  to  those  Missionaries.  It  was  the 
presence  of  the  Missionary,  beyond  all  doubt,  that  put 
an  end  to  that  series  of  bloody  massacres  which  have 
been  perpetrated  at  the  Marshall  Islands,  thus  affording 
a good  loundation  for  a remark  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Kirk,  in 


29 


his  sermon  at  the  last  meeting  of  the  American  Board : 

“ Tlie  ^Missionaries  liave  become  the  guardian  angels  of 
seamen  in  the  Pacific.  Formerly  the  natives  were  pi- 
rates and  murderers.  It  was  dangerous  to  sail  among 
them.  Now  that  is  all  changed  wherever  a Missionary 
has  been  laboring.”  The  inhabitants  of  some  of  those 
islands  were  living  the  most  debased  lives,  rendered 
doubly  so  by  the  vicious  example  of  depraved  foreigners, 
from  Sydney  and  elsewhere,  yet  from  among  tliose  very 
inhabitants  God  is  gathering  a people  to  himself.  The 
wonderful  work  on  the  Marshall  Islands,  Strong’s  Island 
and  Ascension,  I regard  as  particularly  noteworthy. 
Light  is  breaking  on  the  Gilbert  Islands.  All  honor  to 
the  few  noble  men  and  women,  American  and  Hawaiian, 
who  have  commenced  and  carried  forward  this  good 
work.  They  have  not  entered  into  any  other  man’s  field 
of  labor.  They  are  worthy  of  all  praise,  and  are  enti- 
tled to  a most  genei’ous  sympathy  and  support. 

Remarks  on  the  Character  and  Ecclesiastical  Polity  of  the 
Puritan  Missionaries,  as  Developed  in  the  Pacific. 

Having  ])resented  a sketch  of  Puritan  ^Missionary  ope- 
rations in  the  South  and  North  Pacific,  by  English  and 
American  Missionaries,  it  ai)pears  that  I have  merely 
performed  what  ^lontgomery  executed  in  a much  briefer 
style : 

“ The  immense  Pacific  smiles 
Bound  ten  thousand  little  isles, 

Haunts  of  violence  and  wiles." 

But  the  powers  of  darkness  yield, 

For  the  Cross  is  in  the  field. 

And  the  light  of  life  revealed.” 

Passing  to  my  concluding  remarks,  I tvould  observe 
that  the  following  appear  to  be  the  prominent  features  of 
these  3Iissions;  Preachina,  Pihle-tmnslation,  establish- 
ment of  Schools,  organization  of  Churches,  and  care  of 
the  general  icelfare  of  the  jyeople,  including  their  civil, 
social  and phgsic<d  condition. 

The  plain  preaching  of  the  Gosjtel  and  scriptural  ex- 
jiosition  of  Bible  truths  claim  the  first  phu^e  in  the  pro- 
gramme of  the  Puritan  ,Missionarv.  In  order  that  this 

3* 


30 


work  may  be  successfully  accomplished,  he  resolutely 
sits  down  to  the  study  of  the  language  and  the  transla- 
tion of  tlie  Bible,  or  parts  of  it,  into  the  vernacular  of 
the  people  among  Avhom  he  has  undertaken  to  labor. 
As  soon  as  he  feels  confident  that  he  lias  sufliciently  mas- 
tered the  language  to  communicate  with  the  ]>eople,  he 
commences  preaching  without  an  interpreter;*  not  tim- 
idly, hut  boldly ; not  faint-heartedly,  hut  fearlessly,  as 
did  Paul  on  Mars’  Hill,  when  announcing  the  great  truths 
of  the  resurrection  of  the  body,  the  unity  of  the  human 
race,  and  salvation  through  Christ ; or  as  did  Martin 
Luther,  of  whom  it  has  been  eloquently  remarked  by  Ed- 
Avard  Everett,  that  he  “ moved  to  his  Avork,  not 
‘ To  the  Dorian  mood 
Of  flutes  and  soft  recorders,’ 

But  grasped  the  iron  trumpet  of  his  mother  tongue 
and  blew  a blast  that  shook  the  nations  from  Koine  to 
the  Orkneys.  SoA  ereign,  citizen  and  peasant  started  at 
the  sound.”  Thus  Avent  forth  the  Puritan  Missionary, 
preaching  among  Polynesians.  Having  acquired  a famil- 
iar and  idiomatic  acquaintance  with  the  A*ernacular  lan- 
guage of  the  peojile — their  mother  tongue — he  dispensed 
Avith  interpreters,  and  bleiv  the  Gospel  trumpet,  Avliich 
gave  forth  so  clear  and  certain  a sound  that  kings,  chiefs 
and  common  people  were  aroused  from  their  idolatrous 
slumber  of  centuries,  and  directed  to  the  Lamb  of  God, 
who  taketh  aivay  the  sin  of  the  world. 

As  soon  as  a few  were  discoA'ered  who  professed  to  have 
accepted  of  the  offer  of  salvation,  and  become  converts 
from  heathenism  to  Christianity,  a Church  was  organized, 
baptism  and  the  Lord’s  Supper  administered.  Thus  the 
Avork  of  Christian  eA'angelization  went  rapidly  forward 
when  it  had  been  once  commenced.  There  were  hindran- 
ces and  obstacles,  but  the  work  adA'anced.  Throughout 
all  parts  of  Polynesia  to  which  I have  referred,  Puritan 
Missionaries  have  established  Christian  Churches.  They 


*An  interpreter  is  often  indispensable  at  first,  as  ■with  Brainerd  and 
our  preachers.  I used  such  aid  two  years,  beginning  with  Isa.  42:4. — 
Am.  Ed. 


31 


have  not  aimed  to  build  up  a great  hierarchy  and  intro- 
duce a cumbersome  and  burdensome  ecclesiastical  system, 
but,  following  the  example  of  the  Apostles,  adapted  them- 
selves to  the  peculiar  circumstances  of  their  situation. 
Taking  even  the  nineteenth  Article  of  the  thirty-nine 
Articles  of  the  Church  of  England  as  the  proper  definition 
of  Avhat  constitutes  a Christian  Church,  I maintain  that 
English  and  American  Puritan  Missionaries  have  estab- 
lished hundreds  of  genuine  Churches.  “ The  visible  Church 
of  Christ  is  a congregation  of  faithful  men,  in  which  the 
pure  Word  of  God  is  preached,  and  the  Sacraments  be 
duly  administered  accortling  to  Christ’s  ordinance,  in  all 
those  things  that  of  necessity  are  requisite  to  the  same.” 

Even  before  Churches  had  been  organized,  the  IMission- 
aries  had  established  Schools,  set  the  printing-press  in 
motion,  and  otherwise  labored  to  promote  the  temporal 
and  spiritual  welfare  of  the  people.  The  Puritan  Mission- 
ary goes  forth,  accompanied  by  his  educated  and  faithful 
helpmeet,  and  endeavors  to  exhibit  before  the  heathen 
community  a well-ordered  Christian  family.  In  forming 
a proper  estimate  of  the  good  accomplished  by  the  Mis- 
sionaries in  the  Pacific,  no  language  which  I can  command 
would  fully  embody  my  apj)reciation  of  that  important 
part  which  woman — educated  and  refined — has  performed. 

Reports  from  the  South  Sea  tell  of  noble  Christian 
women  who  have  toiled  at  Tahiti,  Samoa,  and  elsewhere, 
but  I do  not  depend  upon  flying  reports  when  I speak  of 
Christian  woman’s  work  on  the  Hawaiian  Islands  and  in 
Micronesia.  Let  no  one  presume  to  assert  that  unmarried 
JMissionaries,  male  and  female,  could  possibly  have  accom- 
plished for  good  what  may  now  be  witnessed.  She  that 
was  “ last  at  the  Cross  and  first  at  the  Sepulchre  ” has 
made  the  voyage  of  eighteen  thousand  miles  around  the 
Cape,  and  here,  if  she  has  not  established  Churches,  she 
has  established  many  Christian  Homes.  This  work  I re- 
gard as  only  second  in  importance  to  the  establishment 
of  Churches.  Thus  Christian  principles  have  been  exem- 
plified before  the  heathen.  It  is  no  mockery  to  sing 
“ Home,  Sweet  Home,”  in  the  Pacific.  We  have  our 
homes,  centers  of  refinement,  culture,  happiness,  intclli- 


32 


geiice,  which  are  presided  over  by  woman,  officiating  in  all 
those  offices  recognized  as  her  sphere  of  duty. 

There  have  always,  I am  sorry  to  know,  been  some  who 
have  openly  and  persistently  endeavored  to  misrepresent 
or  ignore  the  good  which  has  been  accomj)lished  by  the 
Protestant  Missionaries  in  the  Pacific.  Recently  the 
most  extravagant  charges  have  been  put  forth  and  reiter- 
ated. It  has  been  published  in  England,  that  the  Puri- 
tans at  these  Islands  had  “ done  more  harm  than  good.” 
“The  people  were  wholly  neglected  when  sick,”*  and 
“ This  nation  is  as  really  heathen  as  it  ever  was,  only  with 
a thin  film  of  Christianity  over  it  ;”f  while  the  Bishop  of 
Oxford  is  reported  in  the  London  IVmestohave  employed 
the  following  language  at  a public  meeting  at  Salisbuiy : 
“ The  people  of  the  Hawaiian  Islands  are  wearied  out  by 
the  mismanagement  and  maltreatment  of  American  Puri- 
tanism.” Before  any  one  allows  himself  to  employ  such 
language  iu  the  pulpit  or  from  the  press,  he  should  make 
a careful  investigation  and  thorough  examination.  The 
Puritan  jMissionary  is  prepared  to  meet  such  charges  and 
prove  their  falsity.  When  fresh  laborers  enter  upon  an 
enterprise  that  is  supposed  to  be  unfinished,  they  are  accus- 
tomed to  undervalue  what  has  already  been  performed. 
To  such  persons  the  language  of  a King  of  Israel  maybe 
appropriately  addressed : “ Let  not  him  that  girdeth  on 
the  harness  lioast  as  he  that  putteth  it  off.” 

There  is  a marked  contrast  between  Ilawaiians  in  1820 
and  1866.  It  is  a very  different  matter  to  land  and  live 
among  naked,  ignorant,  uncivilized  savages,  from  coming 
to  a peojile  clothed,  instructed  and  civilized;  supplied 
with  schools,  books,  newspapers,  churches  and  many 
other  of  the  accompaniments  of  civilized  and  Christian 
people.  Macauley  remarks  that,  in  the  17th  century, 
those  had  little  reason  to  laugh  who  met  the  Puritan  in 
the  hall  of  debate  or  field  of  battle,  and  may  I not  with 
eqnal  justice  add,  neither  have  those  who  meet  the  Puri- 
tan Missionary  on  the  Mission-field  of  Polynesia. 

I do  not  appear  as  an  apologist  for  the  errors  or  short- 


* The  Mission  Field,  Vol.  IX,  p.  13:  London, 
f Occasional  Tracts ; London;  No.  2. 


33 


comings  of  the  Missionaries,  but  I will  bear  my  testimony 
to  the  truth,  and  carefully  guard  the  interests  of  evangel- 
cal  Missions  here  and  elsewhere.  Although  not  one  of 
them,  I am  emphatically  one  -with  them.  I would  have 
those  know,  Avho  set  themselves  in  oppostion  to  a cause 
so  signally  blessed  of  Heaven,  that  they  will  be  held  re- 
sponsible for  their  false  aspersions  and  unfounded  misrep- 
resentations before  an  enlightened  Christian  public. 
True  laborers  have  been  called  to  encounter  opposition 
from  a class  of  persons  whom  no  exposure  could  shame  or 
argument  reach.  I refer  to  a class  of  foreigners  whose 
habits  rendered  them  even  more  debased  than  tlie  heathen. 
A civilized  heathen  from  Christian  lands  is  tlie  most  deadly 
opponent  of  the  truth,  and  his  influence  the  most  perni- 
cious. When  an  English  Missionary  in  the  South  Seas  met 
a person  of  this  class,  he  inquired  his  name,  and  received 
for  answer,  “ My  name  is  Satan.”  By  no  other  name 
would  the  man  ever  be  known.  Alas,  the  name  was  fitly 
chosen.  He  was  an  adversary,  and  represented  a class. 

When  the  Puritan  ^Missionary  came  to  the  Pacific,  he 
entered  no  other  man’s  field  of  labor,  any  more  tJian  did 
his  ancestors,  the  Pilgrims,  when  they  landed  on  Ply- 
mouth Hock,  or  the  Puritans  in  ^Massachusetts  Bay,  but 
boldly  faced  the  powers  of  darkness  whose  sway  was  su- 
preme throughout  this  part  of  the  world.  He  grap))led 
with  heathenism  in  her  stronghold.  He  bearded  the  lion 
in  his  den.  The  contest  was  fierce,  but  the  issue  not 
doubtful.  Bible  truth  was  the  ^lissionary’s  principal 
weapon.  He  dealt  many  fierce  blows  with  “the  swonl  of 
the  spirit,  which  is  the  word  of  God.”  Perhaps  IMission- 
aries  of  a less  stern  faith  would  have  quailed  before  the 
enemy  and  succumbed  to  the  array  of  ojijiosing  influences. 

. Ere  long,  however,  the  worshippers  of  idols  yielded  the 
contest.  The  idols — those  hideous  images — “ grinn’d 
1 horibly  a ghastly  smile”  and  surrendered ; a ship-load  was 
1 sent  off  to  England  and  they  are  now  on  exhibition  in  the 
British  Museum. 

It  has  been  happily  remarked,  that  if  Lord  Bacon  were 
again  to  visit  our  world,  anti  witness  the  wonderful  results 
achieved  by  the  steam-engine  and  magnetic  telegraph,  he 


1 


34 


would,  lay  his  hands  upon  both  these  machines,  saying, 
“ These  are  mine,  for  they  are  the  results  of  my  principles 
of  philosophy.”  Would  not  the  Mission  Churches  of 
Polynesia  be  as  justly  claimed  by  those  old  Puritans  of 
the  17th  century  who  sent  an  Elliot,  the  MayheAvs  and 
others  among  the  North  American  Indians,  or  collected  at 
the  call  of  the  Protector  Cromwell,  £38,241  lOr^.  6.?.  for 
the  persecuted  Waldenses,  the  interest  on  a part  of  which 
is  now  honorably  paid  by  the  British  Government  to  that 
interesting  people  ? I go  one  stej)  farther.  Suppose  the 
great  3Iissionary  Apostles,  Peter  and  Paul,  were  again  to 
visit  our  world,  and  during  their  voyages  and  travels, 
should  sail  in  the  John  Williams^  the  John  Wesley  and 
the  John  Knod:^  among  the  Christianized  Polynesians 
of  the  South  Seas,  or  in  the  Morniny  Star  among  the 
Hawaiian  and  Micronesian  Islands,  would  not  those  Apos- 
tles recognize  Churches  established  by  Puritan  Mission- 
aries as  genuine  Christian  Churches,  in  which  the  ordi- 
nances were  duly  administered  ? Furthermore,  would  not 
these  Apostles  recognize  the  Pastors,  Elders  or  Bishops 
of  thes®  Churches  as  their  successor?  I trow  they 
would.*  “Divest  the  Apostles,”  as  was  most  forcibly 
stated  at  the  Conference  of  Missions  at  Liverpool,  in  1860, 
“ of  miraculous  power  and  the  gift  of  inspiration,  and  you 
have  the  modern  Missionary,  a true  successor  of  the 
Apostles.”  Among  modern  Missionaries,  results  have 
fully  demonstrated  that  the  Missionary  of  the  true  Puri- 
tan stamp  has  as  fair  a claim  to  be  accounted  a successor 
of  Peter  and  Paul  as  anyAvho  have  left  Christian  Europe 
or  America.  He  goes  forth  free  and  untrammeled.  He 
takes  with  him  no  Procrustean  ecclesiastical  organization, 
but  with  the  Bible  in  hand,  he  liTOclaims  “ the  unsearch- 


* The  author  of  this  discourse  is  gratified  to  learn  that  his  views,  as 
expressed  in  the  foregoing  paragraphs,  are  fully  sustained  by  the  con- 
ductors or  editors  of  the  London  Record,  the  organ  of  the  evangelical 
party  of  the  church  of  Englaud.  From  a notice  of  Mr.  Ellis’s  pamphlet, 
published  in  that  paper,  ou  the  25th  of  April,  1866,  we  copy  as  follows: 

‘ It  has  been  shown  by  us  that  the  Church  of  England  has  ever 
recognized  the  various  Reformed  Churches  as  being  the  true  Churches 
of  Christ,  and  worthy  compeers  with  herself  in  the  great  work  of 
evangelizing  the  world.” 


35 


able  riches  of  Christ,”  and  organizes  Churches.  Puritan 
Missionaries  have  spread  themselves  throughout  nearly 
all  the  Islands  of  Polynesia.  Not  more  firmly  did  the 
Puritan  of  the  I7th  century  plant  his  foot  upon  the  rock- 
bound  shores  and  granite  hills  of  New  England  than  has 
the  Puritan  ^lissionaiy  of  the  1 9th  century  planted  his 
foot  upon  the  reef-encu’cled  islands  of  the  Pacific.  Here 
among  the  aborigines,  he  has  made  his  home.  The 
destiny  of  these  two  branches  of  the  human  family  have 
become  closely  indentified.  The  graves  of  the  Puritan 
and  Polynesian  will  be  side  by  side.  It  is  not  ])Ossible  to 
conceive  of  any  social,  political  or  religious  revolution 
Avhich  can  separate  them.  You  might  as  well  attempt  to 
uproot  the  one  as  the  other.  The  seed  has  taken  root  in 
the  soil,  and  can  no  more  easily  be  uprooted  than  the 
stately  cocoanut  tree,  whose  tall  and  slender  trunk  sways 
so  gracefully  in  the  windy  blast.  The  infiucnce  of  the 
Puritan  is  not  only  now  felt,  but  it  must  continue  to  be 
felt  for  ages  to  come,  or  so  long  as  there  shall  be  dwellers 
upon  these  fair  islands.  Not  only  is  the  Puritan  brought 
into  contact  with  the  aborigines,  but  he  is  called  to  breast 
a wave  of  immigration  from  China.  Asiatic  laborers  will 
overs])read  these  Islands  and  other  pai’ts  of  Polynesia. 
The  Puritan  and  Asiatic  will  be  brought  together.  Here 
they  meet.  But  I cannot  dwell  on  tliis  interesting  and 
important  subject.  Not  only  has  the  Puritan  [Missionary 
become  a power  in  this  ])art  of  the  world,  but  his  influ- 
ence is  felt  in  Turkey,  Africa,  India,  China,  and  other 
portions  of  the  globe. 

The  elements  contributing  to  form  the  character  of  the 
Puritan  [Missionary  are  aggressive  and  expansive  in  their 
nature.  They  are  essentially  the  principles  of  the  New 
Testament.  Their  birth,  as  one  has  remarked,  was  in 
Bethlehem  of  .Judea,  and  the  development  is  religion  la- 
boring for  the  people.  Necessity  rests  upon  the  Puritan 
to  take  a part  on  the  world’s  field  of  action.  lie  adopts 
the  sentiment  of  the  old  Latin  Poet,  Terence  : “ I am  a 
man,  and  whatever  concerns  humanity  concenis  myself 
and  also  that  of  the  old  Latin  Father,  Augustine  : “ In 

essentials  unity,  in  non-essentials  liberty,  in  all  things 
charity.”  lie  may  not  believe  in  manifest  destiny,  but 


86 


he  does  believe  in  manifest  duty,  declaring,  with  the  mod- 
ern Missionary  Cary,  “ Duty  is  ours,  consequences  belong 
to  God.”  In  the  performance  of  that  duty  he  is  thor- 
oughly in  earnest.  According  to  an  ancient  fable,  it  was 
possible  for  King  AEolus  to  confine  the  winds  in  a cave  of 
the  mountains,  but  the  principles  of  the  Puritan  cannot 
be  so  readily  confined  to  a narrow  space.  With  him,  as 
with  his  Divine  Master,  “ the  field  is  the  world.”  New 
England  cannot  be  shut  out  in  the  cold,  or  Plymouth 
Rock  be  blown  up.  N ew  England  principles  are  rapidly 
permeating  all  portions  of  the  N orth  American  continent, 
and  controlling  the  destiny  of  the  Western  world.  The 
recent  struggle  in  America  has  made  this  fact  more  and 
more  manifest. 

“ There  is  a power  at  the  secluded  hearth 

Of  yon  New  England  househould,  that  may  be 
Felt  by  the  dwellers  at  the  ends  of  earth, — 

Known  to  the  islands  of  the  distant  sea.” 

There  is  an  “ irrepressible  conflict  ” among  the  nations, 
and  the  New  England  Puritan  will  be  found  on  the  side 
of  civil  and  religious  liberty,  free  speech,  free  schools,  a 
free  press,  a free  Gospel  and  foreign  Missions  among  the 
heathen  and  unevangelized  nations  of  the  earth. 

“ Coming  events  cast  their  shadows  before.” 

Men  of  narrow  minds  and  bigoted  opinions  may  ignore 
this  class  of  agents.  Writers,  of  prejudiced  views  and  a 
limited  range  of  ideas,  may  misrepresent  their  principles 
and  conduct,  but  the  future  historian,  following  the  ex- 
ample of  Macauley,  will  assign  them  in  history  a position 
even  more  exalted  than  that  distinguished  writer  gave 
the  Puritans  of  the  l7th  century,  respecting  whom  he 
wrote  that  they  were,  perhajis,  “ the  most  remarkable 
body  of  men  which  the  world  has  ever  produced — a brave, 
a wise,  an  honest  and  a useful  body.”  Listen  to  the  lan- 
guage of  the  Earl  of  Shaftesbury,  before  a London  au- 
dience, respecting  American  Puritan  Missionaries  at  Con- 
stantinople : “ He  did  not  believe  that  in  the  whole  his- 

tory of  Missions — he  did  not  believe  that  in  the  his- 
tory of  diplomacy,  or  in  any  of  the  negotiations  car- 
ried on  between  man  and  man,  they  would  find  anything 


37 


to  equal  the  Avladom,  the  soundness,  and  the  pure  evan- 
gelical truth  of  that  body  of  men  who  constituted  the 
American  Puritan  ^Missions.  Tlicre  they  stood,  tested  by 
years,  tried  by  their  works,  and  exemplified  by  tlieir  fruits  ; 
and  he  believed  it  would  be  found  that  those  American 
Missionaries  had  done  more  towards  upholding  the  truth 
and  spreading  the  Gospel  in  the  East  than  any  body  of 
men  in  this  or  any  other  age.”  I might  quote  similar 
testimony  from  British  officials  in  high  stations  in  India, 
respecting  the  character  and  labors  of  American  Mission- 
aries in  Ceylon  and  other  ]>arts  of  India. 

Puritan  3Iissionaries,  scattered  throughout  Polynesia, 
have  displayed  similar  wisdom  and  foresight,  common 
sense  and  sound  piety.  These  characteristics  are  remark- 
ably conspicuous,  as  I maintain,  in  the  organization  and 
management  of  their  Churches.  If  we  take  the  Book  of 
Acts  and  the  Epistles  of  Paul,  Peter,  James  and  John,  or 
the  New  Testament  as  a whole,  for  our  guide,  I do  main- 
tain that  the  Churches  organized  by  Puritan  jNIissionaries 
in  Polynesia  Avill  favorably  compare  Avith  the  primiti\'e 
Churches  gathered  by  the  Apostles  in  A'arious  ])arts  of 
the  Roman  Empire,  during  the  first  century  of  the  Chris- 
tian era.  In  many  respects  there  is  a most  striking  re- 
semblance betAA’een  the  Churches  organized  by  the  .iVpos- 
tles  and  those  which  now  exist  in  various  parts  of  Poly- 
nesia. The  more  closely  the  examination  is  made  and 
comparison  draAvn,  the  moi'e  manifest  the  parallel  will 
appear.  The  A'ery  language  employed  by  Mosheim  and 
otlier  ecclesiastical  historians,  respecting  the  Churches  of 
the  first  centuiy,  would  aptly  describe  the  organization 
of  Mission-Puritan  Churches  in  Polynesia.  All  those 
great  ecclesiastical  establishments  and  “ Church  and 
State”  arrangements  centering  at  Antioch,  Constanti- 
nople, Rome  and  elsewhere  were  an  after-growth — aye, 
and  may  I not  add,  a /«;?r/?/.<;-growth — when  the  churches 
became  corrupt.  The  Mission-Churches  of  Polynesia,  I 
maintain,  haA  e been  modeled  after  a New  TestamcTit  and 
Apostolic  pattern,  and  the  English  and  American  Puritan 
Missionaries,  I furthermore  maintain,  haAm  most  fully 
carried  out  the  spirit  of  the  last  command  of  an  ascending 

4 


38 


Savior,  “ Go  ye  therefore  and  teach  all  nations,  baptizing 
them  in  the  name  of  the  F ather,  and  of  the  Son,  and  of 
the  Holy  Ghost.” 

They  have  sown  the  Gospel  seed  and  much  good  has 
been  produced.  Some  of  the  fruit  may  have  fallen  unripe 
and  immature ; still,  after  making  a full  allowance  for  all 
the  defections  in  the  Mission  Churches,  and  permitting 
the  bitterest  enemies  of  the  Missionary  enterprise  to  set 
off  a broad  margin,  there  remains  much  scattered  over 
the  numerous  islands  of  Polynesia  which  we  should  still 
cherish,  of  which  we  may  be  justly  proud,  and  from  which 
we  should  be  extremely  unwilling  to  take  a farewell.  Who 
would  say,  “ Level  the  Church-edifices  which  the  jy^ople 
have  built  for  the  worship  of  Jehovah,  and  raze  their 
foundations  or  who  would  silence  the  chime  of  many 
hundreds  of  church  going  bells,  the  sound  of  which  breaks 
the  Sabbath-morning  stillness  on  so  many  islands,  inhab- 
ited by  Tahitians,  Samoans,  Marquesaus,  Tongans,  Fee- 
jeans,  Hawaiians  and  Micronesians  ; or  who  would  forbid 
those  thousands  of  simple-hearted  Christians  singing  the 
Songs  of  Zion  in  concert  with  their  fellow-Christians  of 
other  climes  and  other  lands  ; or  disband  these  Churches, 
and  turn  over  their  members  once  more  to  idolatry ; or 
scatter  the  week-day  and  Sunday  Schools,  or  burn  the 
school-books,  hymn-books  and  Bibles  ? Or  who  would  re- 
build the  old  morais  or  heiauft,  rekindle  fires  upon  their 
altars,  call  forth  the  human  victims  for  sacrifice,  make 
the  hills  and  valleys  ring  with  the  shouts  of  midnight 
revelers  around  the  burning  pile  ? Or  who  would  sum- 
mon from  Heaven  those  who  have  died  in  the  faith  of 
Jesus,  and  are  now  striking  their  golden  harps  and  rais- 
ing their  voices  to  the  song  of  “ Him  that  loved  us  and 
washed  us  from  our  sins  in  His  own  blood  ?”  Or  who  can 
for  one  moment  doubt  that  the  Revelator,  John,  saw  in 
vision  a goodly  company  of  redeemed  Polvnesians  among 
that  “ great  multitude  which  no  man  could  number,  of  all 
nations  and  kindreds  and  people  and  tongues  [who]  stood 
before  the  Throne  and  before  the  Lamb,  clothed  with  white 
robes,  and  palms  in  their  hands,  and  cried  with  a loud 
voice,  saying.  Salvation  to  our  God,  which  sitteth  upon 
the  Throne  and  unto  the  Lamb  ”? 


A.. 

A Hawaiian  Missionary’s  Letter  to  President  Lincoln. 

To  the  Editor  of  the  Boston  Christian  Itegister : 

In  1853,  Matanui,  a Chief  of  the  ^Marquesas  or  Nuuhiva 
Islands,  came  to  the  Sandwich  Islands  to  beg  that  i\Iis- 
sionaries  might  be  sent  to  his  native  group.  He  had 
heard  of  the  benefits  which  the  Sandwich  Islands  had  de- 
rived from  the  introduction  of  civilization  and  Christian- 
ity, (which  to  his  mind  appear  to  have  been  synonymous,) 
and  he  wished  that  he  and  his  people  might  pattake  of 
them.  Such  a call  could  not  be  disregarded ; those  of 
us  who  were  the  most  skeptical  as  to  the  wisdom  of  For- 
eign Missions  generally,  were  ready  to  say  God-speed  to 
the  little  band  that  went  out  in  answer  to  that  call.  They 
consisted  of  one  white  layman,  unmarried,  and  two  Ha- 
waiian ministers,  who  took  their  wives  with  them. 

These  native  iVIissionaries  have  remained  at  their  post 
until  now.  Two  years  ago  one  of  them  was  instrumental 
in  saving  the  life  of  an  American — the  mate  of  a whale- 
ship.  Our  Government  sent  to  him  some  gifts  in  acknowl- 
edgment of  the  service.  The  following  letter,  written 
by  this  Missionary — Rev.  James  Kekela — on  the  receipt 
of  those  gifts,  was  received  at  Washington  too  late  to 
meet  the  eye  of  the  good  President  to  whom  it  was  ad- 
dressed. I am  sure  its  simple  utterances  would  have 
delighted  and  touched  that  warm,  loving  heart.  I have 
re-translated  it.  The  translation  whicli  was  received  at 
the  State  Department,  and  which  was  made  in  Honolulu, 
is  more  elegant  than  this,  but  has  sacrificed  the  native 
idiom,  and  in  some  cases,  the  very  spirit  of  the  original, 
to  smoothness  of  expression. 

I commend  the  letter  to  your  i-eaders.  3Iy  translation 
fails  of  doing  full  justice  to  the  original,  yet  I much  mis- 
take if  they  will  not  see  in  its  exjiressions  of  faith  and 
love,  a beauty  and  power  that  could  flow  only  from  a life 


40 


of  entire  consecration  to  God’s  service.  This  poor  Sand- 
wich Islander, -whose  grand-parents  were  just  such  dark, 
benighted  heathens  as  he  is  now  laboring  for,  comes  nearer 
in  his  spirit  to  the  Apostolic  writers  than  many  of  our 
most  learned  Divines  and  Commentators. 

How  admirably  does  this  man’s  child-like  stoiy  of  his 
o-wn  life,  and  of  his  love  to  God  and  to  his  neighbor,  re- 
fute those  unworthy  aspersions  upon  the  labors  and  suc- 
cess of  the  American  Missionaries  at  the  Sand-wich  Islands, 
which  we  have  so  often  heard.  These  aspersions  have 
not  been  so  often  repeated  here  of  late  as  they  were  for- 
merly, but  in  England  we  find  them  uttered  in  various 
foi'ms  by  the  Bishop  of  Oxford  and  others,  who  have  been 
striving  to  build  up  a rival  Mission  at  these  Islands,  some 
of  them  moved,  undoubtedly,  by  their  zeal  for  their 
Church,  others,  as  undoubtedly,  moved  by  a desire  to  ad- 
vance the  political  interests  of  Great  Britain  at  the  Islands 
at  the  expense  of  those  of  the  United  States,  with  a view 
to  their  ultimate  occupation  as  a British  naval  station. 
Who  shall  dare  to  deny  that  this  man  is  in  the  true  Apos- 
tolic succession  ? Who  in  this  age  better  than  he,  rep- 
resents the  “ Apostle  to  the  Gentiles  ? E.  P.  Boxtd. 


Hivaoa,  March  27,  1865. 

To  A.  Lincoln,  President  of  the  United  States  of  America: 

Greetings  to  you,  great  and  good  friend  ! 

My  mind  is  stirred  up  to  address  you  in  fi-iendship  by 
the  receipt  of  your  communication  through  your  Minister 
resident  in  Honolulu,  James  McBride. 

I greatly  respect  you  for  holding  converse  -with  such 
humble  ones.  Such  you  well  know  us  to  be. 

I am  a native  of  the  Hawaiian  Islands  from  W aialua, 
Oahu,  born  in  1 824,  and  at  twelve  years  of  age  attended  the 
school  at  Waialua,  of  Rev.  Mr.  Emerson ; and  was  in- 
structed in  reading,  -wi'iting,  and  mental  aritlimetic  and 
geography. 

In  1838  I was  entered  at  the  High  School  of  Lahaina- 
luna,  and  was  under  the  instruction  of  Jlessrs.  L.  An- 
drews, E.  W.  Clark,  S.  Dibble  and  Alexander.  Not  be- 
ing in  advance  of  others,  I remained  in  the  school  some 


41 


years,  and  in  1843  I graduated,  and  was  then  invited 
and  desired  by  the  teachers  to  continue  my  studies 
in  other  branches;  that  is,  to  join  a class  in  theology  under 
the  Kev.  8.  Dibble.  He  died  in  1845,  and  I and  others 
continued  the  study  of  the  Scriptures  under  W.  P.  Alex- 
ander, In  1847  I graduated,  having  been  at  Lahainaluna 
nine  years.  In  that  year,  1847,  1 inamed  a girl  from  my 
native  place,  who  had  for  seven  years  attended  a female 
seminary  at  Wailuku,  under  the  instruction  of  J.  S.  Green, 
E.  Bailey  and  iMiss  Ogden. 

In  the  same  year,  1847,  I and  my  wife  were  called  to 
Kahuku,  a remote  place  in  Koolau,  on  Oalyi,  to  instruct 
the  people  therein  the  Scrij)tures  and  other  words  of  wis- 
dom. I remained  in  this  Avork  for  some  years.  It  was 
clear  to  my  Avdfe  and  myself  that  our  lives  were  not  our 
OAvn,  but  belonged  to  the  Lord,  and  tlierefore  we  cove- 
nanted with  one  another  that  Ave  AVould  be  the  Lord’s, 
“ His  only.  His  foreA'er.”  ..Vnd  from  that  time  forth  we 
yielded  ourselves  seiwants  unto  the  Lord.  In  1852  certain 
American  Missionaries — Dr.  Gulick  and  others  Averc  sent 
out  on  their  way  to  Micronesia.  I was  one  of  their  com- 
pany, and  after  seven  months  absence,  I returned  with  E. 
\V.  Clarke.  On  my  return,  1 was  emjdoyed  in  arousing 
the  Hawaiians  to  the  work  of  Foreign  Missions. 

In  1823  there  came  to  our  islands  aiMacedonian  cry  for 
^lissionaries  to  Nuuhiva,  brought  by  INIatunui,  a Chief  of 
Fatuhiva. 

The  Missionaiies  speedily  laid  hold  of  me  to  go  to  this 
group  of  islands.  I did  not  assent  immediately.  I stopped 
to  consider  carefully,  with  much  prayer  to  God  to  make 
clear  to  me  that  this  call  was  from  God,  and  I took  coun- 
sel with  my  wife.  It  Avas  evident  to  us  that  this  was  a 
call  from  God,  therefore  we  consented  to  come  to  these 
dark,  benighted  and  cannibal  islands. 

I liad  aged  parents,  and  my  Avife  beloved  relatives, 
and  we  had  a little  girl  three  years  old.  We  left  tlicm 
in  our  irative  land.  We  came  aAvay  to  seek  the  salvation 
of  the  souls  of  this  people,  because  our  hearts  AA’ere  full 
of  the  Love  of  God.  This  Avas  the  only  ground  of  our 
coming  hither,  away  from  our  Jiativc  land. 

4* 


42 


In  the  year  1853  we  came  to  these  cannibal  islands, 
and  we  dwelt  first  for  four  years  at  Fatuhiva,  and  in 
1857  we  removed  to  Ilivaoa,  another  island,  to  do  the 
work  of  the  Lord  Jesus ; and  from  that  time  until  now 
we  have  striven  to  do  the  work  of  Jesus  Christ,  without 
regard  for  wealth  or  Avorldly  pleasure.  We  came  for  the 
Lord,  to  seek  the  salvation  of  men,  and  this  is  our  only 
motive  for  remaining  in  this  dark  land. 

When  I saw  your  countryman,  a citizen  of  this  great 
nation,  illtreated,  and  about  to  be  baked,  and  eaten,  as  a 
pig  is  eaten,  I ran  to  save  him,  full  of  j)ity  and  grief  at 
the  evil  dee<^  of  these  benighted  people.  I gave  my 
boat  for  the  stranger’s  life.  This  boat  came  from  James 
riunnewell,  a gift  of  friendship.  It  became  the  ransom 
of  this  countryman  of  yours,  that  he  might  not  be  eaten 
by  the  savages  who  knew  not  Jehovah.  This  was  Mr. 
Whalon,  and  the  date  January  14,  1864. 

As  to  this  friendly  deed  of  mine  in  saving  Mr.  Whalon, 
its  seed  came  from  your  great  land,  and  was  brought  by 
certain  of  yoiir  countrymen,  who  had  received  the  love 
of  God.  It  was  planted  in  Hawaii,  and  I brought  it  to 
plant  in  this  land  and  in  these  dark  regions,  that  they 
might  receive  the  root  of  all  that  which  is  good  and  true, 
Avhich  is  love — 1.  Love  to  Jehovah.  2.  Love  to  self. 
3.  Love  to  our  neighbor. 

If  a man  have  a sufficiency  of  these  tln-ee,  he  is  good 
and  holy,  like  God,  Jehovah,  in  his  triune  character, 
(Father,  Son  and  Holy  Ghost,)  one-three,  three-one.  If 
he  have  two  and  Avants  one,  it  is  not  well ; and  if  he 
have  one  and  Avants  tAvo,  this  indeed,  is  not  Avell ; but  if 
he  cherishes  all  three,  then  he  is  holj^,  indeed,  after  the 
manner  of  the  Bible. 

This  is  a great  thing  for  your  great  nation  to  boast  of 
before  all  the  nations  of  the  earth.  From  your  great 
land  a most  precious  seed  Avas  brought  to  the  land  of 
dai-kness.  It  Avas  planted  here,  not  by  me.ans  of  guns, 
and  men-of-war,  and  threatenings.  It  Avas  planted  by 
means  of  the  ignorant,  the  neglected,  the  despised. 
Such  was  the  introduction  of  the  Avord  of  the  Almighty 
God  into  this  group  of  Nuuhiva.  Great  is  my  debt  to 


43 


Americans,  who  have  taught  me  all  things  pertaining  to 
this  life,  anfl  to  that  which  is  to  come. 

How  shall  I repay  your  great  kindness  to  me  ? Thus 
David  asked  of  Jehovah,  and  thus  I ask  of  you,  the 
President  of  the  United  States.  Tliis  is  my  only  p.ayment 
— that  which  I have  received  of  the  Lord — love,  (aloha.) 

I and  my  wife,  Naomi,  have  five  children,  the  first 
with  Miss  Ogden,  the  second  with  Kev.  J.  S.  Emerson  ; 
we  now  send  the  third  to  live  with  liev.  L.  H.  Gulick ; 
the  fourth  is  Avith  Kauwealolia,  my  felloAv-Missionary, 
and  the  fifth  is  with  us  at  present.  Another  stranger  is 
soon  ex])ected.  There  is  heaviness  in  thus  having  to  scat- 
ter the  children  Avhere  they  can  be  well  t.aken  care  of. 

We  have  received  your  gifts  of  friendship  according 
to  your  instructions  to  your  Minister,  James  McBride. 
Ah!  I greatly  honor  your  interest  in  this  countryman  of 
yours.  It  is,  indeed,  in  keeping  with  all  I have  knoAvn 
of  your  acts  as  President  of  the  L'nited  States. 

A clear  Avitness  this  in  all  lands  of  your  love  for  those 
Avhose  deeds  are  love,  as  saith  the  Scripture,  “ Tliou 
shalt  love  J ehovah,  and  shalt  love  thy  neighbor  as  thyself.” 

And  so  may  the  love  of  the  Lord  Jesus  abound  Avith 
you  until  the  end  of  this  terrible  Avar  in  your  land. 

Abraham  Lincoln,  President  of  the  United  States, 
I am  Your  obedient  servant, 

[Signed]  James  Kekela. 


15. 

On  the  day  but  one  folloAving  the  delivery  of  this  dis- 
course, the  author  received  a letter  from  J.  C.  Williams, 
Esq.,  H.  B.  M.  Consul  at  Aj)ia,  U])olu,  Samoa,  Avho  is 
the  only  son  of  the  late  Missionary,  ReA\  .John  Williams, 
Martyr  of  Erromanga.  Under  date  of  March  5,  1866, 
he  thus  Avrites:  “The  natives  have  the  Bible  in  their 
hands,  which  they  can  read  and  understand,  and  Avith 
this  Avca))on  they  are  well  armed.”  * * * ^‘  Tiie  na- 

tiA'es  of  Ellice’s  group  are  in  an  interesting  state — wait- 
ing, longing  for  teachers.  In  their  anxiety  to  hav'e  the 
“lotu”  religion,  a Chief  gave  about  fifty  gallons  of 
cocoanut  oil  for  an  English  Bible,  Avhich  an  English  cap- 


44 


tain  had  the  wickedness  to  charge  that  for.  Honor  be 
to  another  Englisli  Captain,  wlio  urged  tlie  chiefs  to  burn 
their  idols  and  the  house  of  their  gods.  Tliese  people 
are  ready  for  the  Gospel.”  x\nother  letter  was  received 
from  the  Rev.  A.  W.  Murray,  author  of  a very  impor- 
tant work,  “ Missions  in  Western  Polynesia,”  (a  copy  of 
which  accomjianied  the  letter,)  who  has  been  at  the  Sa- 
moan Islands  over  a quarter  of  a century.  Mr.  Murray, 
under  date  of  March  2,  1866,  thus  writes:  “One  cannot 
help  feeling  something  like  regret  that  your  Morning 
yS'tor  is  no  longer  to  be  employed  in  the  high  and  holy 
work  for  which  she  was  built,  and  which  she  has  done  so 
■well  for  so  many  years.  The  consolation  is  that  she  is 
to  have  a successor,  which  M’e  trust  will  take  up  the 
work  where  she  laid  it  down,  and  caiTy  it  forward,  till 
few  if  any  of  the  isles  shall  remain  on  which  the  Son  of 
Righteousness  has  not  risen.  If  the  work  advances  for 
the  next  twenty  years  at  the  same  rate  of  ])rogres8  as  it 
has  done  during  the  past,  that  consummation  will  not  be 
far  from  being  realized.  When  we  began  our  labors 
here,  in  1836,  all  beyond  us  to  the  West,  and  all  to  the 
North  except  your  group,  was  enshrouded  in  heathenish 
darkness.  A glance  at  the  Avork  which  was  published 
some  time  since,  a copy  of  Avhich  I beg  your  acceptance 
of,  Avill  show  what  has  been  done  in  the  way  of  exten- 
sion, in  connection  with  this  Mission,  and  will  also  give 
you  a glimpse  of  the  ojiening  prospects  in  the  respective 
neighborhoods  of  the  islands  and  groups  of  Avliich  it 
treats.  Each  of  the  olF-shoots  of  this  Mission  is,  in  its 
turn,  becoming  a centre  of  influence,  a radiating  point, 
whence  the  light  is  spreading  far  and  wide.  And  now 
that  our  Avestward  INIissions  are  off  our  hands,  we  are 
turning  our  attention  to  the  northAvest,  and  intend,  God 
helping  us,  to  ]rress  foi’Avard  in  that  direction  till  we  reach 
the  boundary  Avhich  your  Missionaries  have  fixed  as  the 
limit  of  their  operations  southward.  A A*ery  hopeful 
commencement  was  made,  in  the  months  of  May  an  d 
June  of  last  year,  among  the  range  of  Ioav  coral  islands 
knoAvn  by  the  name  of  Ellice’s  group,  IMitchell’s  group, 
&c.,  &c.  I visited  five  of  these  and  placed  teachers  on 


45 


three  of  them,  and  we  have  since  sent  teacliers  to  the 
other  two.  I found  these  islanders  in  a deeply  interest- 
ing state.  They  had  long  abandoned  idolatry,  and 
■were  literally  waiting  for  the  law  of  the  Lord.  I 
cannot  give  you  particulars.  One  deeply  interesting 
thing  to  us,  connected  with  the  islands  referred  to,  is  that 
the  whole,  eight  in  number,  with  a single  exception,  are 
peopled  by  the  descendants  of  Samoans,  who  had  been 
drifted  thither  many  years,  I suppose  centuries,  ago. 
Hence  our  books  are  available  and  our  teachers  are  at 
home.  The  islands  are  small,  as  is  also  the  population. 
The  whole  range,  I suppose,  does  not  number  over  2,500, 
or,  at  most,  3,000,  but  they  have  a relative  importance 
Avhich  is  not  small,  especially  with  Xui,  which  has  been 
peopled  from  the  King’s  Mill  group.” 


c. 

Missionaries  of  the  London  Missionary  Society  in  the  South  Seas. 

[From  the  Annual  Report  of  1864.] 

SOCIETY  ISLANDS. 

Tahiti — Rev.  Geo.  Morris,  Papeete.  Hcahine — Rev.  Charles  Barff. 
Raiatea — Rev.  Geo.  Platt,  Rev.  J.  C. Vivian.  Tah.ia, — Rev.  J.  L.Green. 
hervey  isla.vds. 

Rarotonga — Rev.  E.  R.  W.  Krauso.  Maxgaia — Rev.  "W.  "Wyatt 
Gill.  Aitctaki — Xo  report. 

SA.MOAN  ISDANDS. 

Savah — Rev.  Geo.  Pratt,  P G.  Bird,  Joseph  Kingr.  Upolc — Rev. 
A.  W.  Murray,  Rev.  Geo.  Drummond,  Rev.  Geo.  Turner,  LL.D.,  Rev. 
H.  Nisbet,  Superintendents  of  Mission  Seminary  at  Malua;  Rev.  H. 
Gee,  Rev.  J.  M.  Mills.  Tutcila — Re v.T.  Powell,  Rev.  S.  J.  Whitmee. 

LOYALTY  ISLANDS. 

Xengoxe  (or  Mare) — Rev.  S.  M.  Creagh,  Rev.  John  Jones.  Lire — 
Rev.  Sam'l  Macfarlane,  Rev.  Jas.  Sleigh.  Niue — Rev.  G.  W.  Lawes. 

N.  B,  We  regret  that  no  recent  reports  of  the  Wesleyan  Missionary 
Society  and  the  Church  Missionary  Society  have  been  received,  so  that 
we  could  publish  a full  list  of  Engli.sh  Missionaries  now  laboring  at  the 
Tonga  and  Feejee  I.slands  and  at  New  Zealand.  We  also  regret  that, 
from  no  publications  or  reports  at  our  command.  c.an  we  present  a satis- 
factory sketch  of  the  important  labors  of  the  Presbyterian  Missions, 
rios  from  New  Brunswick  and  Nova  Scotia,  now  located  in  Melanisia. 


SUPPLEMENT. 


Since  this  sketch  was  prepared,  I have  the  pleasure,  with  other  things, 
to  subjoin  the  beautiful  fact,  that  150,000  Sabbath  School  Children 
furnished  a fund  of  $25,000  to  give  the  gem  of  a little  Missionary 
Ship,  “The  Morning  Star,”  No.  2,  for  the  benefit  of  the  Pacific-Island- 
World,  especially  where  for  ages  no  Christian  Sabbath  dawned  tiU  re- 
cently, thus  happily  cooperating  with  the  American  Board  and  its 
half  million  contributors,  the  Hawaiian  Board  and  a score  of  thousand 
contributors,  the  Colleges  that  educated  the  translators  and  preachers, 
the  American  Bible  and  Tract  Societies,  and  other  agencies  that  have 
helped  to  forward  the  enterprises  sketched  in  these  pages. 

This  beautiful  and  commodious  vessel,  with  missionary  laborers  and 
supplies  on  board,  has  made  several  successful  voyages,  chiefly  in  com- 
mand of  Capt.  Bingham,  now  retired  from  it.  Its  visits,  thus  far, 
have  been  welcome,  and  often  joyous,  as  was  its  departure  from  Bos- 
ton. The  Marquesans  and  Micronesians,  as  well  as  the  Hawauans,  bail 
gladly  the  approach  of  her  dove-like  white  flag  and  her  significant 
figure-head,  symbolizing  the  Spirit  of  Missions,  holding  a bible  under 
the  left  arm,  and  grasping  it  with  the  right  hand,  in  the  posture  of 
eagerly  pressing  forward  over  the  foaming  waves,  timely  to  deal  this 
“bread  from  heaven”  to  the  long-lost,  famishing  prodigals  who  remain 
accessible,  lest  they  perish  forever. 

Does  not  this  enterprise,  in  connection  with  other  records  of  this 
pamphlet,  encourage  even  the  faint  hearted  to  struggle  on  for  the  re- 
covery of  other  dark  isles,  and  Africa,  India,  China,  Japan,  and  South 
America,  where  millions  read  no  bible,  and  probably  find  no  Savior. 

It  is  well  known  that  a class  of  foreigners,  misrepresenting  the  civ- 
ilization of  Christian  nations,  coming  in  contact  w-ith  the  Christian  or 
heathen  population  of  the  regions  they  visit,  encourage  old  offenders  to 
go  on  in  crime,  and  artfully  tempt  the  reformed  to  relapse,  and  glory 
in  it  if  disastrously  successful,  and  will  have  a fearful  reckoning ; but 
others  have  given  us  noble  and  cheering  examples  of  eonsiderate,  gen- 
erous cooperation  from  time  to  time,  from  the  very  commencement  of 
evangelizing  efforts  in  that  field.  I have  not  room  for  details,  but  will 
briefly  allude  to  a few  examples  worthy  of  note  and  imitation. 

The  first  is  the  gratuitous  navigating  of  our  “ Missionary  Packet,” 
from  Boston  to  the  Sandwich  Islands,  in  1826,  for  the  use  of  our  mis- 
sion, a most  perilous  voyage  of  nine  months.  The  seeond  is  the  re- 
cent and  liberal  donation  of  a two  thousand  gold-doUar  city-lot,  with 
dwelling  house,  by  foreign  residents  at  the  capital  of  the  Hawaiian 
kingdom,  for  the  Female  Boarding  Seminary  at  Honolulu,  well  com- 
menced by  Dr.  and  Mr.s.  L.  H.  Gulick,  but  now  under  the  management 
of  Miss  Bingham,  which  needs  a more  suitable  Seminary  edifice,  and 
also  more  means  for  the  support  of  teachers  and  indigent  but  promising 
pupils,  to  fit  them  for  the  Lord’s  work.  The  assistant  teacher  has  been 
paid  by  a generous  church  of  foreigners  there,  and  the  Principal  is  sal- 
aried by  “ The  Cousins,"  a precious  band,  the  associated  sons  and 


47 


daughter.s  of  missionaries  espousing-  the  cause  for  which  their  parents 
toiled,  and  aiming  to  help  Micronesia,  America,  and  even  China,  some 
of  whom  were  lately  found  in  our  patriot  army,  battling  faithfulh' 
and  successfully  for  the  right.  One  further  example,  deemed  ad- 
missible here,  of  timely  and  well-directed  aid  to  our  cause  from  a 
former  resident  at  Honolulu,  who  had  once  brought  to  the  ears  and 
hearts  of  the  pioneer  missionaries  the  first  tidings  of  the  fall  of  Ha- 
waii's idols,  is,  though  not  by  him  allowed  to  deserve  a record  here, 
the  donation  of  ten  thousand  dollars  from.!.  Hunnewell  (the  navigator 
of  the  Missionary  Packet),  in  order,  with  '\V.  I'l.  Dodge,  the  Am.  Board, 
and  others,  to  found  the  Oahu  College  as  a liberal  educator  for  Ha- 
waii, and  champion  of  Christian  civilization,  for  the  Pacific-Island- 
world.  Its  graduates  will,  it  is  believed,  be  found  active  benefactors 
to  the  varied  classes  of  dwellers  within  and  around  the  limits  of  that 
vast  ocean,  on  whose  bosom,  Christian  islands  begin  to  blossom  as 
the  rose,  where  unoft’ending  mariners  may  sail  without  the  fear  of 
native  violence,  and  be,  moreover,  greeted  with  the  voice  of  Christian 
songs  from  long  lost  tribes  redeemed  to  God  by  the  Gospel. 

Kncouragingly  does  the  practicability  appear  of  manning  rough 
missionary  fields,  distant  and  dark,  and  furnishing  timely  the  miser- 
able and  dying  people  with  the  means  of  grace,  whenever,  and  to 
whatever  extent,  God  requires  it,  either  for  a few  hundred,  or  a few 
hundred  million  souls ! 

A unique  and  very  recent  foreign  mission  on  a small  scale,  but  val- 
uable, deserves  here  a grateful  mention.  At  Nui,  a small  island  some 
500  miles  south  of  Apaiang  of  the  Gilbert  Islands,  the  Morning  Star, 
in  1807,  found  a people  who  had  enjoyed,  for  one  year,  the  labors  of  a 
native  missionary  from  the  island  of  Samoa,  listening  to  his  instruc- 
tions, abandoning  their  idols,  and  voluntarily  “ boarding  him  around  ” 
one  day  at  a time,  among  their  different  families.  Numbers  of  them 
promptly  recited  passages  of  Scripture,  and  read  other  pasages  from 
books  shown  them  from  the  vessel,  printed  in  the  United  States,  in  the 
Gilbert  Islands  dialect  which  is  spoken  at  Nui. 

Now,  if  the  available  forces  of  the  Divine  Leader  promptly  obey 
their  “marching  orders”  with  the  loyalty  that  fired  the  hearts  of 
Caleb  and  Jo.shua,  displaying  the  banners  of  salvation  for  the  heathen, 
and  using  the  means  that  Christ  requires,  then,  His  promise  being 
sure,  soon  the  present  urgent  necessity  for  sending  hosts  of  heralds 
to  distant,  benighted  nations,  to  bid  them  -‘know  the  Lord,"  would 
cease,  for  all  would  know  Him,  or  have  His  Word  within  their  easy 
reach,  or  other  moans  of  knowing  the  way  of  salvation  through  Jesus 
Christ.  Then  His  servants’  strictly  foreign  missionary  work,  with  its 
noble  aims,  would  be  consummated,  to  the  glory  and  satisfaction  of  the 
Inheritor  of  all  nations. 


48 


Should  the  song  of  the  Life-boats  here  offered,  cheer  on  the  devoted, 
living  toilers  in  foreign  missionary  fields,  and  their  kind  sympathizers 
dwelling  at  home,  or  traversing  the  seas,  whom  it  may  chance  to  greet, 
it  will,  while  honoring  the  Master,  do  for  them  what  was  intended  by 
the  writer  and  the  singers  on  the  deck  and  wharf  at  Boston,  for  his 
dear,  self-sacrificing  children,  as  they  courageously  embarked  on  the 
Morning  Star,  in  1866,  for  their  life-work  among  the  waiting  Pacific- 
Islanders. 

'•  A little  ship’’  did  Christ  desire. 

To  bear  Salvation’s  choicest  stores, 

To  souls  involved  in  ruin  dire. 

Around  Gennes’ret’s  throng-prest  shores. 

Ilis  herald-hosts  He  speeds  afar — 

Let  numerous  ships  upon  them  wait. 

And  e’en  the  children’s  “ Jlorning  Star  ’’ 

Leap  forth  to  aid  His  work  so  great. 

Go,  angel-winged,  blest  “ Morning  Star,’’ 

Sweep  fearless  o’er  the  mightj-  deep ; 

Safe  every  plank,  and  sail,  and  spar, — 

And  all  on  board  may  Jesus  keep. 

Should  dangers  throng  and  surges  roar. 

Then  trust  your  Pilot,  skilled  and  true. 

Timely  to  bring  His  friends  ashore. 

As  on  that  Lake  where  tempests  blew. 

The  winds  and  waves  His  voice  obey — 

If  heathen  rage.  He  calms  the  flood ; 

Faith’s  prayer  He  hears,  and  clears  the  way. 

Lost  tribes  to  reach  and  bring  to  God. 

Then  to  the  breeze  your  canvas  spread ; 

Ten  thousand  prayers  each  sail  shall  fill ; 

Give  famished  men  God’s  living  bread. 

And  help  them  learn  Ilis  glorious  will. 

Send  out  your  Gospel  life-boats  sure, 

IVliere  fearful  billows  roll  amain : 

There,  for  the  lost,  prompt  aid  secure, 

And  throngs  of  shipwrecked  souls  regain. 

Dwellers  in  far-off  isles  shall  hail 
* The  rising  of  their  Herald-Star: 

For  their  lledeemer  will  not  fail. 

His  chosen  .sheep  to  bring  from  far. 

When  all  His  flock  cross  Jordan’s  flood, 

Some  precious  souls,  resplendent  there. 

From  those  dark  shores,  shall  bless  our  God, 

For  Life-boats  like  the  ‘-Morning  Star.’’ 


II.  B. 


THE  SONG  OF  VALIANT  FAITH ; 


A joyous  recognition  of  prime  Christian  doctrines,  duties,  vows  and 
blessings — the  dependence,  election,  call,  renovation,  enlistment,  alle- 
giance, obedience,  assured  hope,  fight  of  faith,  perseverance,  victory 
and  recompense  through  the  Redeemer,  the  crown  of  gratuitous 
j ustificatiou  and  life  eternal,  of  the  warrior-servant  of  God ; written 
for  Christ’s  array  of  conquest,  including  the  author’s  enlisted  Pacific 
Quartette,  and  chiefly  sung  on  the  eve  of  the  embarkation  of  the  fourth 
from  New  York,  Nov.  24,  18G8,  for  Honolulu,  H.  I. 

It  may  be  added  that  the  closing,  octo-linear,  6-4  stanza  now  sub- 
joined, was  originally  composed  as  a needed  if  not  climacteric  finale 
of  the  admired,  seven-lined-stanza  song,  by  S.  P’.  Adams,  of  a pilgrim, 
panting,  aspiring,  struggling  to  rise,  “Nearer,  my  God  to  Tlice" 
— and  thus  used,  may  still  aid  the  grateful  adorations  of  any  one  who 
truly  hopes,  through  a Mediator,  to  bear  a part  in  the  most  joyous, 
harmonious  and  enduring  song  of  heaven. — [Rev.  v;  9-1.8.] 


Loyal,  my  God,  to  thee — 

Loyal  to  Thee ! 

Since  thou  hast  caus’d  my  heart 
“At  peace  ’’  to  be. 

I'll  sing  thy  grace  that  chose. 
And  made  this  “ chief”  of  foes 
Loyal,  tliough  hosts  oppose — 
Loyal  to  Thee. 

Trustful,  my  God,  to  thee. 
Trustful  to  Thee  I 
’Mid  dangers,  strifes  and  snares. 
Trustful  I'll  be; 

In  thee,  will  I confide. 

Though  bonds  or  death  betide. 
Unmoved,  will  I abide. 

Trustful  to  Thee. 

Praiseful,  my  God,  to  thee. 
Praiseful  to  Thee, 
Chanting  “tlij*  will  be  done,” 
Praiseful  I'll  be — 


Joy,  grief,  pain,  toil,  or  rest, 

“ 'Thy  will  ’'  is  ever  best; 

I'll  bow  to  thy  behest. 

Praiseful  to  Thee. 

Grateful,  my  God,  to  thee. 
Grateful  to  Thee: 

For  man,  Christ  died  and  rose. 
Grateful  I'll  be; 

Since  thou  didst  give  thy  Son, 
'Wliile  endless  life  rolls  on, 

I'll  laud  his  vict'ries  won. 

Grateful  to  Thee. 

Brought  home  by  grace  alone. 

My  God,  to  thee, 

I bless  “ thine  Holy  One,” 

He  ransom'd  mel 
Hence  a’l  my  song  shall  be, 

“ ‘ Bought  with  thy  blood,'  to  hvel 
Ever,  my  God,  withtheel 
Ever  w’ith  Theel” 

H.  Bikgham. 


;HTIAT  TKAtrA.7;  10  OHOe  SHT 

“»'U  Jiij  ,vi«»ixr'<<i  *b ajl — 

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REFERENCES. 


Alexander’s,  Pres.,  Review  of  Bishop  Staley’s  Pastoral.  Honolulu. 
Anderson’s,  Dr.,  Memorial  Volume,  Hi.story'of  the  Am.  Board.  Boston. 

Hawaiian  Islands.  Am.  Board.  Boston. 

Miss, — Scenes  in  the  Sandwich  Islands. 

Bartimeus,  the  blind  Hawaiian  Convert  and  Preacher.  Am.  Tr  Soc. 

New  York,  and  Mass.  S.  S.  Soc.  Boston. 

Bingham’s  Sandwich  Islands’  Histor,v. 

— H.,  Jr.’s  Story  of  the  Morning  Star.  Am.  Board.  Boston. 

Campbell’s  Maratime  Discoveries,  and  Christian  Missions. 

Castle’s  Visit  of  Le  Artimise.  Honolulu. 

Cheever's  “Life  in  the  Sandwich  Islands”  and  “The  Island  World.” 
Constitution  and  Laws  of  Kamehameha  III.  Honolulu. 

Dibble’s  “ Hist,  of  the  Sandwich  Isl.  ” and  gen.  views  of  the  Mission. 
Dwight’s  “ Life  of  Henry  Obookiah.”  Damon’s  Seaman’s  Friend. 
Ellis’s  Polynesian  Researches,  Vindication  of  South  Sea  Missions. 

American  Mission  in  the  S.  I. ; A Vindication  and  Appeal. 

Hawaiian  Club  Papers.  Boston. 

Hunnewell’s  Voyage  of  the  Missionary  Packet.  Boston. 

Jarves’  History  of  the  Hawaiian  or  Sandwich  Islands. 

Scenes  and  Scenery  in  the  S.  Islands.  Polynesian,  Newspaper. 

Maile  Quarterly,  by  the  Hawaiian  Miss.  Children's  Society.  Honolulu. 
Malo’s  Folly  of  Atheism,  a Sermon  in  Hawaiian. 

Missionary  Herald  from  1819,  with  J.  F.  Hunnewell’s  digest  in  Hawa- 
iian Club  Papers. 

Missionaries,  American,  “Refutation  of  the  charges  brought  against 
them  by  the  Roman  Catholics.”  Am.  Board. 

Mooolelo  no  ka  Ekalesia  o lesu  Kristo,  or  Ecclesiastical  History. 
Murray’s  Missions  in  Western  Micronesia. 

Orme’s  “Defense  of  the  Missions  in  the  South  Seas.” 

Read’s  Hand  of  God  in  History.  Hartford. 

Reports  of  American  Board,  London  Missionary  Society,  &c. 

Sketch  of  the  Life  of  the  Rev.  A.  Thurston,  of  Hawaii  in  a Tale  Class 
paper,  for  the  graduates  of  1816,  by  H.  B. 

Stewart’s  Journal  of  a Voyage  to  the  Pacific  and  Residence  at  the  Sand- 
wich Islands. 

Visit  to  the  South  Seas  in  the  Vincennes. 

Taylor’s  “Flag  Ship,”  the  Columbia. 

Tyerman  and  Bennett’s  Journal  of  their  visit  to  the  Eng.  Miss.  Stations. 
Warriner’s  Cruise  of  the  U.  S.  Frigate  Potomac. 

Washburn's  Speech  in  House  of  Representatives  on  the  S.  Islands. 
Wheeler's  Letters  and  Journal  of  his  visits  to  S.  I.  and  South  Seas 
Whitney’s  Pacific  Commercial  Advertiser.  Honolulu. 

Wilkes’  Narrative  of  the  U.  S.  Exploring  Expedition.  1838-1842. 

Philadelphia,  1845,  New  York,  1856. 

Williams,  John,  Life  of. 

Narrative  of  Missionary  enterprises  in  the  South  Seas. 

Am.  Ed. 


